If My Body Could Speak

by Blythe Baird

Blythe Baird's If My Body Could Speak is a celebration of girlhood and all of its struggles and triumphs.

In poems that dig deep into sexuality, acceptance of the body, survival of trauma, and learning to love yourself in spite of everything telling you not to, Baird's voice is a rich addition to her generation. Searing, soaring, and heartbreaking, If My Body Could Speak balances the softness of femininity with the sharpness that girls are forced to become.

Includes poems such as "Girl Code 101", "When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny", and "Pocket-Sized Feminism" that have been watched by millions online.

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

84 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2019

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

[MischaS_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Well, what to say.

I always want to give modern poetry a chance... Unfortunately, it keeps disappointing me. It does not seem or feel like poetry to me.

But when I saw this one I wanted to give it a chance.

The first several poems were good. They did not feel like poems to me. But I enjoyed reading them.

And the comment where the author talks about the feel of water in the empty stomach, I could so much relate, and I could remember the feeling. I expected that the majority of the poems would be about eating disorders. However, only a few were about it. The majority was about being harassed (even raped), bullied and shamed for being a woman. And I must say that the American Dress Code in School seems utterly ridiculous to me. The idea that I would have to kneel down and the principal would measure the hemline? I cannot fathom who thought this is okay.
But overall, I did not like this book of poetry, and I had a hard time to finish. Not because of the topic but because it did not create a feeling of understanding.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Massive TW for anorexia/eating disorders and rape/sexual assault; also, homophobia.

I was THRILLED when I heard that Blythe had a new collection out because I received a copy of Give Me A God I Can Relate To in 2015 and gave it a glowing five stars. I first heard about Blythe from Button Poetry--AKA the publisher of this new collection--and I fell in love with her for her poem Pocket Sized Feminism, which is also in this collection. To this day, I still get chills reading some of Blythe's most hard-hitting lines, but something about reading this almost four years later has put it into perspective as not quite my favorite.

Many of these poems are repeats of ones I've read or heard her perform before, so half of my enjoyment was revisiting old poems. Some of my favorite lines by her brought tears to my eyes and gave me chills. I really enjoy her writing because although it's not necessarily lyrical or adherent to any style, her ability to pack a punch in a succinct statement is really honed. Still, there were moments where the free verse became a bit too rambly, seemingly unedited, in a way that made the writing too colloquial or childish for my taste. It only happened once or twice in a handful of poems, but it was enough to slow me down and make me cringe at a corny line or two.

I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this because that cover is magnificent. Though I can't really relate to the subjects Blythe talks about most of the time, anorexia and rape, her words still really stick with me. The 2015 Feminist Whitney probably would have rated this five stars, but in comparison to other feminist collections I've read, especially by women of color, I think the discussion of feminism is a bit narrow. But even if you don't pick up this book, you definitely should search Blythe on YouTube and spare three minutes to hear her read one of her poems. She's incredible.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just... wow. I have a new favorite modern poet, full stop. Never has any poetry book resonated with me quite as hard as this one did. It's so unapologetically feminist, bold, brave, body-accepting, queer, rape-decrying, angry, broken, beautiful and I never wanted it to end. I can count eight poems I would tattoo on my body right this very moment. Wow.

Whether she was talking about eating disorders, surviving sexual assault, or coming to recognize her own love for other women, I related so damn much to every bit of it. And I wish I didn't, and I wish she didn't get it, because nobody deserves to go through the things that we and so many other people on this planet have been through, but it feels so good to be seen.

I don't even have words. I'd rather just offer you some of Blythe's.

This is not female privilege,
this is survival of the prettiest.

We are playing the first game
we learned how to.

———

I have run out of compassion for wolves. I have run
out of compassion for anyone who isn't outraged.

———

Watch me build an empire from the ashes
of everything that tried to destroy me.

Content warnings for rape, abuse, misogyny, eating disorders

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Button Poetry for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ lia. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“IF YOUR BODY COULD SPEAK
would she forgive you?”

all i’m going to say is thank you for the sleepless night i’m going to spend crying.

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Button Poetry for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If My Body Could Speak is a poetry collection about sexual assault, rape, eating disorder, homophobia, and abuse. It was painful to read as each verses sucker punched my heart. Blythe's words are emotionally powerful. I applaud her strength for sharimg her experiences through poetry and I want to hug her tightly. While the collection is beautifully written and raw, it might be triggering (a warning to everyone). Two of my favorites are "Pocket-Sized Feminism" and "Horoscopes for Self-Doubt". Overall, I recommend this collection.

[millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

if your body could speak, would she forgive you?

this is such a heartbreaking collection of poems that show true, unfiltered struggles
if you want to read this, check tw's first because they're quite bad

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AMAZING! It's relatable. Sometimes it felt like she was writing directly from my brain. I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Spens (Sphynx Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful collection of poems! This is the perfect example of poetry done right: not pretentious, but real and raw and moving.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Once, my dad informed me sexism is dead
and reminded me to always carry pepper spray

in the same breath. We accept this state of constant
fear as just another component of being a girl.

We text each other when we get home safe and it does not
occur to us that not all of our guy friends have to do the same."

I am no longer a person, I am just the throbbing open wound this book has left in its wake.
I've transcribed a few of my favorite passages below because I feel like I won't be able to aptly describe how hard this book made me FEEL.
And I think that is why I always find myself falling into poetry. To feel un-alone in the most meaningful way.
Blythe Baird lays it all out, and refuses to make apologies for writing about her trauma.
This one of the rawest collections I have ever experienced.

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.

x

We know the Pythagorean theorem by heart,
but short-circuit when anyone asks us,
How are you? We don't know. We don't know.
That wasn't on my study guide.

x

We are the girls petrified
by the business school boys

Who learned to manifest success
by refusing to take no for an answer

x

Give me a God
I can relate to.

Commandments
from a voice both soft
and powerful.

Give me one accomplishment of Mary's
that did not involve her vagina.

x

I consulted Google & read an article that said now,
I am officially a woman & I wonder if being
a woman has always been associated with hiding pain.

x

I do not have room
to carry anyone's chaos
but mine

if I sink, it will be
in my own ocean

if I float, it will
be on the ship

I built myself.

x

I have run out of compassion for wolves. I have run
out of compassion for anyone who isn't outraged.

x

To live in the body of a survivor
is to never be able to leave
the scene of the crime.

[Kathryn S (Metaphors and Miscellanea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that I am a sucker for poetry, especially from spoken word artists, and especially especially books from Button Poetry. And Blythe Baird's performances of pieces from this collection, especially "When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny," have been among my favorites for a while. But after Sabrina Benaim's disappointing Depression and Other Magic Tricks, I guess I got a little soured on the whole "collections-by-performers" concept, and I did not expect this entire collection to be this great.

But I was wrong. This book was amazing. I read it in a single sitting. Seriously, even when I needed to brush my teeth, I took my Kindle with me and kept reading. Despite the fact that she is only 22 years old (literally my age?? what??), Baird writes with passion and eloquence that few poets--established or otherwise--manage to achieve. Her writing is not pretentious, but it is also not the all-too-popular "Instagram poetry" that is so popular as of late (Rupi Kaur, I'm looking at you...). The pieces are long enough to feel like fully-developed concepts, but short enough to feel compulsively readable and lend themselves easily to the "one more chapter" phenomenon.

The collection largely focuses on issues of body image, trauma, sexuality, and personal identity. Though the topics are serious, Baird presents them in such a way that they are not overwhelmingly heavy--just raw and honest. From her own experience with sexual assault to coming to terms with the fact that she likes girls, from conflicts with her family to her history of disordered eating, she covers a series of themes that are at once intensely personal and resoundingly universal. All of her thoughts are incredibly relevant and timely in a world where women are increasingly under pressure from society and the men around us to be a certain way, act a certain way, and accept terrible things as being "just the way things are."

If My Body Could Speak ought to be required reading for all young women today. It is a testament to the strength of the individual and a pointed callout of the problematic society we live in. It is beautiful, personal, readable, and so, so important.

Trigger warnings for eating disorders, sexual assault, homophobia, mental illness, and mention of self-harm.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book of poetry, it really spoke to me, as a woman, as someone struggling with weight alll my life and now trying to accept who I am and learn to be body positive. These poems are raw and hit hard. So powerful. I loved them, even when hard to read, they were wonderful.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest review

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so mixed on this review. There were so many poems I absolutely loved that were insightful and validating. It was very clear to me that Blythe Baird is still suffering and using poetry as an outlet for her pain. I totally applaud using poetry as a tool to recover, its a healthy outlet, and it offers us something beautiful and haunting to read. By the end however, it was also clear that she is just sitting in her pain, to the point where many of the poems almost romanticized mental illness. As an assault survivor, this was a bit triggering for me to get through, but many parts felt like she was speaking from inside of my body (like the title says). There is a necessary discomfort that is expected when reading about these heavy topics, but I found some of the poems to be pushing that boundary in the wrong direction (Vindictive maybe, but I still cant find the right word to describe it). I have so many thoughts about it that I need to sift through, but i will hold my peace until I get the chance to read it a second time though. This collection is easily made worth the purchase through the poems "Girl Code 101" "Pocket-Sized Feminism" "Skirt Steak Girls" and "I Lose My Voice During Sex"

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I am trying to be happy & pay attention to the world around me.
I do not know if it is possible to do both at the same time."

[grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

'If your body could speak, would she forgive you?'

Maybe my expectations for poetry have been significantly lowered recently, but i thought this was really good. I could guess that maybe the poetry/experiences came first, and then wanting to publish it came second which i like because the poetry isnt just to impress the reader, but instead fulfill the message the writer wants to give. There wasn't a ton of fancy language but it didn't need it bc the stories were clear, and it was about girlhood so it made sense it wasn't overly fancy.
I'd love to read more from this writer :)

also i swear she has cameras in my room bc i was ranting about something then the zodiac part directly adressed that 5 mins later when i read it😭

p.s dont be stupid like me and forget to read tws then get hooked :)

[Fini (Hozier’s Version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

03/13/2021

★★★★☆

"To live in the body of a survivor
is to never be able to leave
the scene of the crime."

I'm going to keep this short because I can't fully express how amazingly written these poems were.

I'm thankful that the author spoke up and reached a lot of people through poetry. You can tell just how passionate she is about her poems.

I remember hearing about this book from someone's BookTube, about a year ago. I have wanted to pick it up ever since.
I finally had the chance to read this, and it was impressive.
It's fascinating how terrible things, and experiences, can turn into something this beautiful.

This poetry collection is memorable and important!

[Sleepless Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

For now, writing a philosophy dissertation about disabilities while you're in the process of learning that you might have a disability is the most academically interesting experience I've ever had.

Stressful, scary but also, interesting. The philosophy texts I'm reading and writing feel comforting and I get what the writers I'm reading mean more than I did before. The doubt I feel in my own body, the way medical authorities disengage my body parts from my own self, the frustration in attempting to explain my lived reality, to translate what I know to be true of myself to doctors who seek to quantify it, to prescribe it, the realization that there's a norm that I might not be able to reach, not now and perhaps, not ever, the consequences of this in my ability to live "normally".

I don't know how this particular saga will end but I'm so absolutely grateful to my dissertation right now, and somehow fascinated by this particular human experience.

[disco · Rating 5 out of 5]

we understood the many ways
a mother’s shame
can haunt a daughter’s body

[Char (lunarchar_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: sexual violence, eating disorders, mental illness.

AD|Gifted|ARC

Everything I needed to read. A book I needed to heal. Raw and honest. At times even painful. But wonderful. Something I’ll re-read often. Even purchased a physical copy. Might do a full review blog post

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pretty much loved every poem but the following were my favorites:
Pocket-Sized Feminism
High School
Girl Code 101
Blood-Rose
The Way I Was Taught To Love
An Invitation
Balancing
Relapse

[elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia is almost certainly coloring my opinion of this and I don't think this would hit as hard if you didn't spend middle school watching button poetry videos of blythe baird on loop. However. I did. So I get to like this

[Laiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Years later, I am seventeen. Half daughter,
half apology, all fire and the wrong kind of love."

⭐️ 4 stars. review to come ⭐️

[Raluca Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

rhtx
repetitive, but has a good impact on the reader

[Ankita Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

If My Body Could Speak is a poetry book which feels more like a prose-collection taking you through the life of a woman who was fat once, is thin now and not because she exercised.

These poems capture a lot of things that a woman goes through in the society we live in, from everyone loving a lean body to a relatively fat filled one, the stigma towards periods, a woman's body being nothing more than a tool of seduction and pleasure, molestation and rape, life beyond the aforesaid and more than anything, one's sexuality.

It feels like the author is pouring her heart out which I feel requires much strength of character. If this is purely fiction, I congratulate the author in achieving this feat and bringing the feelings of victims of such incidents quite amazingly.

Quite an apt account if really our body could speak against the constant body shaming we go through.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

[Dora (Swift Coffee Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I'm a bit contradicted because of modern poetry. In general, I tend to like a bit more old-fashioned poems (I mean in style, like rhymes and verses, not in theme/topics!) at first I thought that this would be the case with this collection, too, but all in all I have to say that it convinced me by the end. These poems are powerful and they all made me feel something. I could relate to so many things mentioned in them, and I love that the poet says what's on her mind and heart. I could feel for her. I think these poems are ones that very young people can understand and relate to, but the poet also shows a more mature side of thinking - because of the topics and life stage I knew she must be young, but I was actually surprised to find out how young she is. I'll be on the look for more work of hers!

[Andreia Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

May 2019:

One of my favorite reads of 2019.

The collection focuses on issues of body image, trauma, eating disorders, homofobia, mental illness, sexuality and personal identity.

Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. This book blew my mind.

Each poem is so raw and honest. Love the author’s writing, she has a way to convey her stories. Her poems are long enough to be fully developed and compelling. Everything she wrote, I felt it.

Every young women should read this.

Special thanks to Blythe Baird, Button Poetry and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

March 2025:

4*

[Sofia (Bookish Wanderess) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape, anorexia and eating disorder, homophobia, and abuse.

I have run out of compassion for wolves. I have run
out of compassion for anyone who isn't outraged.

The writing in this collection was so powerful but so unpretentious at the same time and that made it hit harder. The poems are beautiful and raw. I can't wait to read more of Blythe Baird's poetry.

[⋆˙⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you watched that scene of cassie explaining to sid how not to eat when you were too young (iykyk) and took it as advice instead of a warning, this collection is for you.

some of my fav poems: when the fat girl gets skinny / pocket-sized feminism / i lose my voice during sex / for the rapists who called themselves feminists / to live in the body of a survivor / relapse 💌

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of poems about the things girls do to be liked and accepted even at the expense of themselves. Poems about coming of age struggles and body image as well as sexual assault and eating disorders, most of which resonated even if I hadn’t experienced them myself. It’s about forgiving ourselves for the choices we thought we had to make. I recommend.

[꧁ ꕥ James ꕥ ꧂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly poignant and heartfelt poetry collection which through love, loss and disordered eating, try’s to peel back the layers of one’s own existence.

There is always something about modern day poetry that just doesn’t hit the same as the classics though.

[Madison Miller-Ortmeier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one day! A short read with a long-lasting impact. Such vibrant poetry about such biting themes that most women face.