Two favourite poets. This speaks volumes to me. "Don't confuse one story for all stories", we need to educate correctly. And maybe then people like me, would get some justice to know we could help even prevent one rape or sexual assault
For anyone and everyone who intends to say "just say no." when this happens to you... you don't have the breathe to tell them to stop. You're mentally shutting down and physically shutting up so that you don't have to feel. It isn't always in an alley, sometimes it happens in your own home. Sometimes it happens when you least expect it. Sometimes it someone so close to you, you can't say no. Sometimes you're crying too much on the inside to say no on the outside. So, they're right. Not everything is just one color.
In my case I said no, repeatedly, and begged him to stop, but I didn't push him away physically as he had manipulated me into believing that this was his right and that if he hurt himself as a result of me stopping him it'd be my fault. Not the kind of thing I expected losing my virginity would turn out as... I rarely ever tell this story. Over the internet it is easier, but in real life only about 4 people know about it. I have blamed myself because the overall message from the society is that I somehow earned it, that it wasn't actually rape. But it felt like it. And that has made me feel guilty also-what if it actually isn't and I'm the one being at fault after all?
I was sexually assaulted by my cousin I tried to screamed as my body was burning from hate and hurt But this was only the start He said he will be right back so I ran to my fathers room He was not told on to anyone than his mother and I was told what I did was wrong like I did it to him my brother did not believe me neither did my parents like I was not touched cropped and fingered in my own bedroom
These comments have my mouth firmly locked open and tears streaming down my cheeks. I'm so happy everyone is taking this so seriously and well. I've never seen a video with a comment section so beautiful.
This gave me chills the entire duration of the poem. At the end, I honestly cried. It never crossed my mind that anyone could feel exactly the way I have all these years after what happened to me as a kid. Neil Hilborn is one of my favorite poets because I connect with him on so many levels. But what Ollie Schminkey put into this poem felt just as real for me as I'm sure it was for her. I'm so thankful for writers like this. They're doing more than just writing poetry.
"They only ask how you're doing to hear you say fine." "The thing about pretend is it flattens everything out to one color." "Do not confuse one story for all stories." "Do not stare at a red dot and say the whole painting is just one color."
I go back to this poem every time I start to suffer from the post-traumatic stress of my own experience two years ago. I even got to meet Neil earlier this week and thank him for this particular piece because it has gotten and still gets me through moments like this where I'm crying and remembering what it all felt like. Again, thank you, both of you, for putting it into words.
I wish I had come across this before. Crying today for the 21 year old me, with my first boyfriend who convinced me I would if I loved him. She deserved better. You deserved better, meri jaan ❤
Watched so many of Ollie's poems and I am always blown away. These two know exactly how to take something so impossible to describe and are able to describe it in a matter of minutes.
I know that I’m commenting this years later. But I wanna thank the people in this piece. To hear someone say what I’ve been feeling for so long, but no one would believe if it came out of my lips- I can’t describe how grateful I am to have found this. I burst into tears when I heard it the first seven times I listened to it, overwhelmed by the understanding and the unsettling comfort that I wasn’t alone with these thoughts and experiences. I needed this. And it gave me the courage to tell my parents my story. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
I keep replaying this over and over again. From my first experience in bed, I have never had my thoughts articulated just as clear as they have in this piece, and the fact that the words they say are the exact words I'd been meaning to use make me feel somehow elated. At least now I know that I'm not alone in the situation of forced into something I never wanted by a lover, and I'd be grateful if there are others out there willing to talk about this. Thanks for this xx
This has my heart in my throat and my lungs gasping every time I hear/see it because of how true it is. This is what made me fall in love with poetry slams. This poem, in it's raw, awful truth.
its an incredible feeling when someone puts words to something that has been trapped in your head. they said all the things i wish i had the courage to say. this really hit home, it brought me to tears.
This makes me cry. After years and years of not knowing what to say or how to explain the way it feels they found it and they sad it so perfectly. I've watched this a thousand times and it still makes me cry. Thank you for finally putting it into words. It's taken me years to post one comment but now that I'm confident with what has happened to me I can finally say thank you for giving those of us without words a voice. Thank you.
As someone who has been assaulted by a trusted friend who had no idea that he was assaulting me when it was happening this is very important to me. This is on repeat in my life
mynameisnotsophie I feel I just recently was raped in my bedroom by a close friend and the part about there was no worksheet for how to stop him without waking my sleeping parents made me lose it
"they only ask how you're doing to hear you say fine I learned I was supposed to feel fine." That line always hits me hard. All of this poem is beautiful and important
As a rape survivor this touched me on a very personal level. I am in shock that two other people could have almost the exact same experience as I did when I was 16. Thank you for doing this video. It means a lot to me!
Waouh merci beaucoup !! Je ne pensais pas que quelqu'un allait le faire à vrai dire, mais maintenant tout est clair et je peux profiter réellement de chaque mot ! Merci mille fois, ce poème est une merveille, et vous êtes fabuleux d'avoir pris le temps de me le traduire :D Merci encore !
Wow goose bumps thats so deep i cant even believe it. Coming from a young poets end i would never have the bravery to get up on that stage let alone talk about that serious of a subject. I respect them
I fucking love this. I can't even imagine the level of sharing that went into creating this beautiful, painful masterpiece. What strong, amazing human beings. They both always bring their souls to the table, and I can't stop watching. Pure artistry.
"but with a love like that you hardly have to ask, right?"
i cried
I wish there were better words in the English language because there is nothing to say about how great this really is holy shit
Those are literally the words to say it man,i agree 100000000000000%
There are over 1300000 words in the English dialect and not ONE describes how fucking much I love Ollie :(
Two favourite poets. This speaks volumes to me. "Don't confuse one story for all stories", we need to educate correctly. And maybe then people like me, would get some justice to know we could help even prevent one rape or sexual assault
For anyone and everyone who intends to say "just say no." when this happens to you... you don't have the breathe to tell them to stop. You're mentally shutting down and physically shutting up so that you don't have to feel. It isn't always in an alley, sometimes it happens in your own home. Sometimes it happens when you least expect it. Sometimes it someone so close to you, you can't say no. Sometimes you're crying too much on the inside to say no on the outside. So, they're right. Not everything is just one color.
In my case I said no, repeatedly, and begged him to stop, but I didn't push him away physically as he had manipulated me into believing that this was his right and that if he hurt himself as a result of me stopping him it'd be my fault.
Not the kind of thing I expected losing my virginity would turn out as...
I rarely ever tell this story. Over the internet it is easier, but in real life only about 4 people know about it. I have blamed myself because the overall message from the society is that I somehow earned it, that it wasn't actually rape. But it felt like it. And that has made me feel guilty also-what if it actually isn't and I'm the one being at fault after all?
Lack of a "no" does not equal a "yes."
+VeracityLH EXACTLY - only a yes equals a yes.
kawaii_penguin this helped me a lot because I would freeze up and get angry at myselg
I was sexually assaulted by my cousin
I tried to screamed as my body was burning from hate and hurt
But this was only the start
He said he will be right back so I ran to my fathers room
He was not told on to anyone than his mother and I was told what I did was wrong like I did it to him my brother did not believe me neither did my parents like I was not touched cropped and fingered in my own bedroom
These comments have my mouth firmly locked open and tears streaming down my cheeks. I'm so happy everyone is taking this so seriously and well. I've never seen a video with a comment section so beautiful.
This gave me chills the entire duration of the poem. At the end, I honestly cried. It never crossed my mind that anyone could feel exactly the way I have all these years after what happened to me as a kid. Neil Hilborn is one of my favorite poets because I connect with him on so many levels. But what Ollie Schminkey put into this poem felt just as real for me as I'm sure it was for her. I'm so thankful for writers like this. They're doing more than just writing poetry.
Super old comment, I know, but Ollie uses they/them pronouns. (:
I think this may be one of the most important things ever said on the internet.
the fact that i did not relate to this three months ago, but I do now in a way that makes me tear up.
I’m sorry. Do you need to talk?
Amazing, left me speechless
I love it when you're already loving a poem but the last line is just so good you can no longer express the love you have for it.
being a survivor of sexual assault.. this said everything my heart wanted to verbalize and was unable to. Thank you.
"They only ask how you're doing to hear you say fine."
"The thing about pretend is it flattens everything out to one color."
"Do not confuse one story for all stories."
"Do not stare at a red dot and say the whole painting is just one color."
I go back to this poem every time I start to suffer from the post-traumatic stress of my own experience two years ago. I even got to meet Neil earlier this week and thank him for this particular piece because it has gotten and still gets me through moments like this where I'm crying and remembering what it all felt like. Again, thank you, both of you, for putting it into words.
I wish I had come across this before. Crying today for the 21 year old me, with my first boyfriend who convinced me I would if I loved him. She deserved better. You deserved better, meri jaan ❤
They put all my feelings into words
Watched so many of Ollie's poems and I am always blown away. These two know exactly how to take something so impossible to describe and are able to describe it in a matter of minutes.
I HAVEN'T WATCHED IT YET BUT ONCE I SEEN THAT THEY WERE BOTH IN THIS IT MADE ME SO HAPPY BECAUSE I LOVE THEM BOTH.
I know that I’m commenting this years later. But I wanna thank the people in this piece. To hear someone say what I’ve been feeling for so long, but no one would believe if it came out of my lips- I can’t describe how grateful I am to have found this. I burst into tears when I heard it the first seven times I listened to it, overwhelmed by the understanding and the unsettling comfort that I wasn’t alone with these thoughts and experiences. I needed this. And it gave me the courage to tell my parents my story. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
It’s been five years and it still hurts. Thank you both for educating others and for making me feel less alone.
he's so powerful... the way he says things and his gestures
This poem got me through so many bad flashbacks, so much judgement. So much rough nights. Thank you.
"My textbook hadn't described the way I wouldn't even try to fight."
this line punched me in the stomach with so much truth.
I'm literally crying. This is so awesome.
Speechless.
I keep replaying this over and over again. From my first experience in bed, I have never had my thoughts articulated just as clear as they have in this piece, and the fact that the words they say are the exact words I'd been meaning to use make me feel somehow elated. At least now I know that I'm not alone in the situation of forced into something I never wanted by a lover, and I'd be grateful if there are others out there willing to talk about this. Thanks for this xx
I think i'm in love with poetry... so many different perspectives that I never even thought about
This has my heart in my throat and my lungs gasping every time I hear/see it because of how true it is. This is what made me fall in love with poetry slams. This poem, in it's raw, awful truth.
Neil and Ollie in one poem makes me quite happy
"I learned that if you don't scream; No one will listen to you; They don't write about the ones that got away" so powerful.
its an incredible feeling when someone puts words to something that has been trapped in your head. they said all the things i wish i had the courage to say. this really hit home, it brought me to tears.
i cried, and i cried. This poem hit me hard, and many more should listen to this. Their message is so important
I cried... I can relate to this in every possible way its so amazing. Neil Hilborn is possibly my favorite poet and Ollie is just amazing
This makes me cry. After years and years of not knowing what to say or how to explain the way it feels they found it and they sad it so perfectly. I've watched this a thousand times and it still makes me cry. Thank you for finally putting it into words. It's taken me years to post one comment but now that I'm confident with what has happened to me I can finally say thank you for giving those of us without words a voice. Thank you.
BEFORE I EVEN WATCH THIS I KNOW ITS GOING TO BE AMAZING, My two favorite poets, coming together as ONE.
this brought me to tears... thank you for putting this into words
"Don't confuse one story for all stories." This was beautiful and heart wrenching. Whoa.
"Do not confuse one story for all stories" Absolute truth. I'm in tears.
I love Neil and Ollie. Gonna keep watching this until I can get through it without crying.
As someone who has been assaulted by a trusted friend who had no idea that he was assaulting me when it was happening this is very important to me. This is on repeat in my life
mynameisnotsophie I feel I just recently was raped in my bedroom by a close friend and the part about there was no worksheet for how to stop him without waking my sleeping parents made me lose it
I'm sitting here in total awe. This video captured what the media and government has failed to. Everyone single person should watch this video!
holding my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth, speechless, sobbing, nodding in silent approval and confirmation.
Thank you for putting in words what I can't speak out loud. I've cried the whole video.
Every time Neil Hilborn gets in front of a microphone I prepare to shivers and tears.
I can't stop listening to this. I just keep playing it over and over and over.
I've watched this a million times. It never ceases to bring tears to my eyes and chills all over.
I can't stop crying this is so beautiful .
I have watched this about 20 times, I have cried and got goosebumps every single time.
That just made me cry. I can't even begin to explain how great that was.
I love both of them so much, what a powerful poem.
So. Good. This needs to be shown everywhere.
Tears. I hope this reaches a lot of people and makes them think, and (not) act. But most of all learn and remember.
I've watched this a million times. And every single time I get goose bumps
I don't really know what to say, but more people need to hear this.
Slam poetry has taught me more about rape than any teacher has.
I can't believe this only has 52k views, this should be on blast EVERYWHERE!!!!!
Moved to tears because I can relate. Very beautifully done. Thank you.
This is so raw, so true, so gut wrenching. Balling like a baby.
I can't even find the proper words to express what I'm feeling. Just... thank you. Thank you for teaching me something.
Every time I listen is like the first time. Chills. Chills everywhere.
I am so bummed I couldn't go to this. This video is giving me chills. So powerful.
they describe what i've been through so well...absolutely perfect
I love them and their poetry. They're incredible.
so many years later and this is till one of my favorite videos
"they only ask how you're doing to hear you say fine
I learned I was supposed to feel fine." That line always hits me hard. All of this poem is beautiful and important
This is beautifully poetic and so painful and touching at the same time.
Chills. Tears. All that.
everyone should watch this
I have one word to describe this chilling poem: perfection.
As a rape survivor this touched me on a very personal level. I am in shock that two other people could have almost the exact same experience as I did when I was 16. Thank you for doing this video. It means a lot to me!
Neil hilborn is one of my favorite poets
This makes me cry so much
chills from halfway right to the end
I have goosebumps. This is incredible, and sad and painful. It's beautiful and insightful. I'm in awe.
This made me cry the first time I heard it. I can relate so much.
Neil is such a powerful and emotional poet. He's so amazing.
"with a love like that you hardly have to ask right" ... most powerful words
Waouh merci beaucoup !!
Je ne pensais pas que quelqu'un allait le faire à vrai dire, mais maintenant tout est clair et je peux profiter réellement de chaque mot ! Merci mille fois, ce poème est une merveille, et vous êtes fabuleux d'avoir pris le temps de me le traduire :D Merci encore !
THIS. Amazing. Just... Perfect. Exactly. There are tears in my eyes
two of my favorite poets... i love this so much
He's literally my favorite. I can't.
This is something ever one needs to hear and listen to.
This is amazing and perfect and it explains something that is hard to put into words. Thank you for writing and performing this.
Wow goose bumps thats so deep i cant even believe it. Coming from a young poets end i would never have the bravery to get up on that stage let alone talk about that serious of a subject. I respect them
One of my absolute favorite by these two
this has me sobbing. I am just speechless
This is so powerful. I will never stop sharing!
I'm crying. I wasn't expecting this. This was beautiful and amazing.
I cried, for it felt as if they'd taken my thoughts and turned them into beautiful, painful words.
I fucking love this. I can't even imagine the level of sharing that went into creating this beautiful, painful masterpiece. What strong, amazing human beings. They both always bring their souls to the table, and I can't stop watching. Pure artistry.
Things like this... They inspire me so much.
Trying to hold my tears in but this was just too beautiful
This is so powerful-- I have no words. This hit me hard.
This is the most beautiful and amazing poem I've ever heard.
It's been 2 minutes and I'm still crying.
Thank you.
I saw them both on their own on tumblr and together they are... Wow. I teared up.
amazing. absolutely speechless. connected to this on so many levels.
i love neil hilborn so much! i've never been to a poetry slam but this makes me want to see one!
This brought me to tears.
Incredibly powerful! Cuts to the core.
The fact that it doesn't let me share this on Facebook (where I found an audio-less version and came here to find the real one) speaks volumes.
Thanks for letting us know. What a pain!