Give Me A God I Can Relate To

by Blythe Baird

This is the first book by actress, poet, and feminist Blythe Baird. In 2014, she represented Chicago as the youngest competitor at the National Poetry Slam. Her work has been published or featured by The Huffington Post, Write Bloody, EverydayFeminism, Button Poetry, Chicago Literati, Banango Street, and Wicked Banshee, among others.

Genres: Poetry, Feminism, Queer, LGBT, Mental Health, Gender, Nonfiction

83 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Blythe Baird is an actress, poet, and feminist. In 2014, she represented Chicago as the youngest competitor at the National Poetry Slam. In 2015, she returned to NPS representing the Twin Cities Unified team.

Her work has been published or featured by The Huffington Post, Ashton Kutcher, A-Plus, Write Bloody, EverydayFeminism, Button Poetry, Chicago Literati, Banango Street, and Wicked Banshee, among others. She is currently studying creative writing, women’s studies, and ASL at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.

With three nominations at the ICFF including Best Picture, Baird takes on the role of Stephen Baldwin’s daughter in Auslynn Films 2015 indie feature “The UnMiracle.”

In the past year, Baird’s poetry has gone viral on the internet. Her poem “Girl Code 101” has been utilized in academic lesson plans across the globe, featured in Occidental College’s updated “The Vagina Monologues,” and holds the state title for Poetry Interpretation at Colorado’s national speech tournament.

Reviews

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLYTHE YOU GORGEOUS HUMAN BEING THIS WAS AMAZING!!

I read this right after reading Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur and honestly.. It pales in comparison to this. Trigger warning for anorexia and sexual assault/rape, but Blythe speaks so truthfully in her poems and offers such complex and thought-provoking insights. I adore her usage of metaphors and her writing style is just so gorgeous. I've heard several of her spoken poems and I was worried that I would think she was better at delivering her poems verbally than through just the writing, but it shines both ways. I thought this collective was a tad brief and I wish I could have more, but maybe that's bit of a selfish request because I just love her writing. I will always continue to listen and read to anything Blythe publishes, and I highly recommend this if you want some poetry about feminism!

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When my mother asks if I am gay, I tell her I am sorry.
When she asks, How can you possibly love something that looks just like you do?
I wonder how long she has hated herself."

- Blythe Baird, The Way I Was Taught to Love Part 1

This collection of poetry is beautifully written, thoroughly honest, and touches on many different traumas in a gentle way. There are poems about eating disorders, sexual assault, recovery, feminism, sexual orientation, heartbreak along with so many other topics. Baird manages to capture the emotion of these subjects so well without them feeling at all contrived. I felt a deep emotional connection to many of these poems and think they would be applicable to such a large variety of people.

My favorite poems:
If You Are Not Recovering,
The Way I Was Taught to Love Part 1-3
Theories About the Universe
Too Pissed to Be Sad Anymore
Dress Code
Inventory of Public School Disappointments
Skirt Steak Girls
Evolution of Healing

[Bree Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is the dilemma of the woman who wishes to inform the misogynist, politely.
It is the dilemma of the woman who wishes to be heard-
Let us give you a formal invitation to be a decent person.
Let us give you this reality check with a spoonful of sugar.
Let us make this easier for you to hear than it is for us to live."

I hate that there isn't more to this collection. It was fantastic! Welcome to writing that discusses eating disorders, being the only girl in a car full of guys being complete Assholes to women on the street and having to have that conversation that, that behavior is wrong. Welcome to writing that talks about calling the sexual assault victims advocate hotline and falling so hard in love you admit you'll become whatever that person needs you to be and they relay to you that, that is the problem. I am so excited for more from Blythe Baird.

[Atlanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fully believe that everyone should have to listen to Blythe Baird at least once in their lives. I have always and will continue to devour any content she sees fit to share with me. Thank you for this amazing beauty, Blythe, and never stop!

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful collection of poems. I love Blythe Baird's blunt, honest voice and her amazing truths about being female.

I found her poem "Pocket-sized Feminist" on YouTube, and after watching every slam poem she had on YouTube I decided to pick up this book.

My favourite poem was definitely 'Theories About The Universe' because it shocked me so much. It at first seemed such an innocent poem and then this changed so drastically.

I would definitely recommend reading this book in the order they are laid out in, because you kind of learn more about her in each poem and it kind of develops as you progress through each poem. There were some poems that I wasn't that keen on, but that's not to say they were bad, they just didn't have such a big impact on me personally. However, she has changed my view on poetry and I will definitely pick up anything else she releases in the future.

[Abby Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: ED(!!!!!), SA(!!!!!)
Yes, I finished this in one day, no shame. There were a handful of great poems, especially about recovery, but not as many as I had hoped. You do have to be in a good place mentally to read this, in my opinion.

Here are some of my favorites:

“Even though the harbor was not very deep, people drown in their own bathtubs.”

“I hope the universe has my best interest in mind like I have my dog’s. When I want something with my whole being, and the universe withholds it from me, I hope the universe thinks to herself, Silly girl. She thinks this is what she wants, but she does not understand how it will hurt.”

“When I wonder if I am doing the right thing and if I am being what I am supposed to be being, she reminds me: “Little sister, the only thing you are supposed to be is here.” I ask her, “How do I do that?” And she tells me: “You already have. You already are.”

[Ona Salvat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first found Blair on Button Poetry, with her poem Girl Code 101 which I found (and still find) brilliant. I even felt compelled to message her (on Google+ I believe) to let her know how it hit home and I would still consider it one of my favourite poems, in fact I almost know it by heart just by sheer repetition of watching it over and over. So buying this book just made sense. And honestly it didn't disappoint. This is one of those books that I want to have always at hand and also one that I want to share with every one of my most loved friends because I think it treats with what it's like to be us (a girl and a teenage simultaneously) delightfully. Just beautiful and inspiring.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 well deserved stars! I wish I could give this 30 stars. I have trouble finding poetry that resonates with me, and I tend to not like modern day poetry. However, this book of poetry is absolutely fantastic. This is the first time I’ve ever found a poetry book that I wanted to annotate and make notes in— IT IS JUST THAT GOOD. I highly recommend this to everyone.

[Amy Welham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how brutally honest her writing is. You can feel it hit you as you read it. I would read a few pages at a time then put it down, it is just so powerful. This is a great collection of poems and I will be sure to pick up any future releases.

[Bejka · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me cry, made me angry, made me empowered. just made me feel all the feels.

[Lizzy Seitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this! So many wonderfully written poems

[River Snowdrop · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Cancer, redefining your identity doesn’t make you a liar.”

favorites:

The Way I Was Taught To Love Part 2

Concerns From a Hotboxed Jeep at 2 AM

Another Coming Out Poem

[annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much love for this poetry collection.

[A ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I knew the author from some slammed poetry videos that I watched some years ago and since then I have been very excited to read this book, I'm so happy I have finally done it.

[Emily Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You threatened me not to write this, but I am a force of nature and you will never tell me what to do again”

Give Me a God I Can Relate To Is slam poet Blythe Baird’s debut collection.

The collection is largely a critique of society that examines the world through the lens of intersectional feminism that delves into rape culture and misogyny, as well as eating disorders, family relationships, and being part of the lgbtq community.

This collection is beautiful in the way a forest fire is beautiful. The language isn’t overly flowery, but each poem is written with blunt and powerful honesty that forces you to face what she is saying, even if it “isn’t something we like to discuss”. Each line grabs you by the shoulders and looks you straight in the eye, and there’s no way not to listen. The honesty of the collection is also what makes it so relatable, even if you’ve never been where she’s been or if you turn a blind eye at the things she’s writing about, you’ve seen it and heard it and there is no way to erase that from who you are.

Even though this is a collection of page poems they read like spoken word, which can be attributed to her history as a slam poet. Her honesty and passion carries throughout the collection, thus giving it one of the strongest voices I’ve ever encountered in a collection of poetry. Each line is laced with emotion and power, the kind that doesn’t care what you think because she’s calling it like she sees it, and it’s magnificent.

Overall, Blythe has managed to beautifully capture what it’s like to be a girl growing up today as well as deliver critiques on the very bedrock of society, all while giving advice and offering insights that are wise beyond her years. Whether you’re interested in feminism, on the hunt for a book that will make you think, or simply enjoy poetry this collection is for you.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really blunt, honest, but heartfelt collection of poems. I discovered Blythe on Youtube after her work was posted on Button Poetry several times, and felt an intense connection with her poems 'When The Fat Girl Gets Skinny' and 'Relapse,' which resonated very strongly with me as someone who has suffered from an eating disorder. I also really admire her poems about misogny, which contain some really powerful messages.

Blythe's poetry is pretty accessible even for those who don't read much poetry, as it doesn't sugar-coat things or decorate them with flowery metaphors. She says it like it is, and I feel like anyone who's experienced sexual harrassment, coming out, or disordered eating could relate to her work. Not all of her poems hit me as hard as the first two I mentioned, but I found that many of them relatable in some ways and they were all interesting to read. You get a really good sense of Blythe's journey and personality through this collection, and I would fully recommend this - but look her up on Youtube as well, trust me. The poems are amazing, but she breathes even more life into them through the spoken word, I found them even more powerful when she performed them.

[Isaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the books I bought on an Amazon binge after finishing Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey, and the first one I read.

Absolute beauty of a book. Some of my fave bits:

"We are the girls taught to survive
by using our bodies as Swiss Army knives;"

"Give me a God I can relate to.
Commandments from a voice
both soft and powerful."

"...How can you possibly love
something that looks just like you do?

I wonder how long she has hated herself."

"Sent home.
Eleven years old.
Violation to the dress code.
Skirt not enough. You: too much."

"...Come back to the city it was easiest to breathe in."

Among many, many other gems

[Sasha Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think i came into reading this with a different mindset that the last couple of times i read it. i took a little time to digest it. i have no idea what to say. i could say wow, this is beautiful but it's so much more than that. it's honest. so very, very honest. and there's an energy to its rawness. from every public school disappointment to the body issues to the same thoughts about sexuality that i have to the assault. it's all just so perfectly honest.

[Courteney Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

So so so good! I read this in two sittings! It was an impulse buy, I'd only read girl code 101 before buying it. Definitely would recommend this especially people who enjoy darker themes such as anorexia, self issues and assault. My favourite poems however are the ones about sexuality because they don't hide behind figurative language they're powerful and honest.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curse you, Internet connection! I wrote a very eloquent, long review about how much I enjoyed Give Me a God I Can Relate To. However, when I went to save it my Internet connection failed me. I am under the weather and exhausted so I'll just give you the highlights of the review I wrote.

1. You should be reading Blythe Baird if you aren't already. Hell, you can listen to her perform on YouTube if reading poetry isn't your thing.

2. Baird is not afraid to tackle any topic: anorexia, rape culture, misogyny, coming out, and falling in love with the wrong person. Her verses deal with them fearlessly. I also like that she is not afraid to vulnerable with her readers/audience.

3. Her poems that focus on having and recovering from an eating disorder are particularly good. If You Are Not Recovering tells the story of Baird's eating disorder and how growing up overweight affected that. Eat, which is probably my favorite poem of the collection, focuses on what recovery from an eating disorder looks like. I feel like this poem easily describes recovery in general. This is my favorite line from the poem: “Killing yourself slowly is still killing yourself. Wanting to die is not the same as wanting to come home. Recovery is hard work. Not wanting to die is hard work.”

4. Baird is also a master of exploring and eviscerating rape culture and misogyny in her poems. Girl Code 101 explores what it means to be a girl in our society, how we always have to be suspicious and afraid. Shirt Steak Girls discusses the difficulty of being a feminist and wanting to dismantle sexism and misogyny when you are friends with guys and feel vulnerable. My Fear for the First Woman President pretty much tells the story of the poem in the title, and I have to admit that I have many of the same fears about this that she does.

5. I don't think the word erasure poems work. I have never found them to work in any collection, and I was not a fan here. Sorry!

6. I do wish the themes of the collection had been narrowed down for cohesion, but I understand how the collection works as a whole despite that. I feel like I understand why each poem was selected. I just don't like every single one.

Overall, I recommend this collection and Baird's other work because I think she's a great poet. I think we need more honest, vulnerable, and feminist voices in poetry like hers.

[Gervanna Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baird uses words in a way that evokes a sense of purpose in the reader. I felt like I wanted to take up arms for a cause. I felt like a washed intention from her discourse into identity, expectations and feminism. She highlights the simple tenacity of youth, being misunderstood and a choking need to be accepted without explanation. I find a self less exposure in her writing that identifies itself with the reader and postures for a common ground. She makes you want to believe in goodness because she shows you how shitty and awkward society extends itself to be. She transitions smoothly back and forth between her poems and their major tenets as easily as she trumpets on a stage for a slam/spoken session. “Give Me A God I Can Relate To” made me identify with self and self-love in a way I wouldn’t have if not for sharing in her madness depicted in ink; and yes, everyone experiences mania. What did I relate to at the end? That gods and godlikeness aren’t owned features.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this collection of poems is powerful. I did not relate to every piece, but there were plenty that I did.

"It is the dilemma of the woman who wishes to inform the misogynist, politely.
It is the dilemma of the woman who wishes to be heard-
Let us give you a formal invitation to be a decent person.
Let us give you this reality check with a spoonful of sugar.
Let us make this easier for you to hear
Then it is for us to live"

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what poetry is to me. I enjoyed almost all these poems and some especially stood out to me. Let me list those I enjoyed most:

If you are not recovering (p. 13-14)
Girl code 101 (p. 20-23)
High school (p. 25)
Smoke (p. 34)
The kindest thing she almost did (p. 35)
The week after the - the week before the (p. 53)
Dress code (p. 59)
Witches (p. 71)

Especially that last one got me thinking!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Blythe through her slam poetry with 'Button Poetry Slam' that's been posted on youtube. At the time I was struck by how brutal, honest and important her work was. The eating disorder poems particularly resonate with me as a reader, but all of her work is fantastic and I really enjoyed the collection as a whole.

Deals with sexuality, feminism, abuse, queer identity, mental health and more.
Fantastically brutal and cutting, almost as if she's shouting from the pages.

[Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

The noise I made when I saw this was on Scribd was not human.

I've been watching Blythe Baird's spoken word poetry on YouTube for months now but I could never find a copy of her book. I'm so so happy that I finally got to read this. I think I can firmly say that Blythe Baird is on my list of favourite poets.

[Raizel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for women who felt alienated by patriarchy such that they internalized it as shame, and then got very angry when they realized the injustice of it all. So basically every woman will find at least one poem she resonates with here. Wonderful debut, and I am excited to read her more recent collection, and admire how her voice grows. My personal favorite is “Theories About the Universe”

[Emily Ann Meagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I used to think monsters couldn’t look like mentors.
I used to think poets couldn’t be predators.
I used to think being a poet and being a good person were the same thing.

When I walked off stage he said to me,
Such a big voice from someone so small.

What he meant to say is
That’s a lot of power from someone
I didn’t expect to have any.”

[Isabelle (Senseandbookibility) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posting this review late but wanted to write down some words about it.

My English class in high school got me into spoken word poetry and when I browsed YouTube myself after school I found Blythe Baird and she really stood out. She’s so good with words and her performances are impactful. I love all of her poems so I had to buy this book so that I could read them.

[Rachele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this poetry collection

the best way I can describe it is that it was REAL, not super flowery language, but real. I also felt there was some humor at times, but the nitty gritty poems were - wow.

I'd read more by this lady!