Best of Button Week 100

“I wanna thank you for making all
the love songs mean something again.”



This week marks the 100th week of the Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed videos on the Button YouTube Channel. You can check out the current list above, and to celebrate, we’re honoring ALL 179 poets who have made the list over the last year with links to their poems below. Check out some of the best poems of the last two years!

Aaliyah Jihad
Adam Hamze
Adina Burke
Adrienne Novy
Aja Monet
Alessandria Rhines
Alex Copeland
Alex Dang
Alyesha Wise
Amanda Pressman
Amber Tamblyn
Amin Drew Law
Anis Mojgani
Anna Binkovitz
Anthony McPherson
Ashe Vernon
Ashlee Haze
Ashley August
Asia Samson
A.W.
Aziza Barnes
Beck Cooper
Bianca Phipps
Bill Moran
Blythe Baird
Bobby Crawford
Brenna Twohy
Brian Yu
Cameron Awkward-Rich
Carrie Rudzinski
Casandra Faith
Cassidy Foust
Catherine Pierce
Charlotte Abotsi
Christopher Michael
Chrysanthemum Tran
Clementine von Radics
Crystal Valentine
Dan Roman
Danez Smith
Darius Simpson
Dave Harris
Denice Frohman
Desireé Dallagiacomo
Donte Collins
Dylan Garity
Ebony Stewart
Effy Fritz
Elisa Chavez
Elizabeth Acevedo
Ellyn Touchette
Em Allison
Emilee Nimetz
Emily Eastman
Emily James
Eric Sirota
Erica Hoops
Erich Haygun
Erin Schick
Evan Knoll
Franny Choi
FreeQuency
Gabriel Green
Gabriel Ramirez
Gabrielle Smith
Guante
Hanif Abdurraqib
Hannah Dains
Hieu Minh Nguyen
Honey Sanaa
Iain Kohn
iCon
Imani Cezanne
Jamie Mortara
Janae Johnson
Jasmine Combs
Jasmine Bell
Javon Johnson
Jeanann Verlee
Jensen McRae
Jeremy Radin
Jess Rizkallah
Joel Francois
John Ratz
Johnny Osi
Jonathan Mendoza
Joseph Capehart
Julian Randall
Justice Gaines
Kai Davis
Kate Hao
Kayla Q
Kelsey Warren
Kevin Kantor
Kevin Yang
Khamal Iwuanyanwu
Khary Jackson
Kristen Sze-Tu
Lauren Zuniga
Mahogany L Browne
Mallary M
Marshall Gilson
Marvin Hodges
Mary McDonough
Matt Coonan
Max Binder
Maxine Wright
Maya Berkley
Meaghan Ford
Melissa Lozada-Oliva
Melissa Newman-Evans
Mercedez Holtry
Michael Mlekoday
Michelle MacLeod
Mikayla Mitchell
Mike McGee
Mila Cuda
Miriam Harris
Mojdeh Stoakley
Mo Crist
Muggs Fogarty
Nayo Jones
Neil Hilborn
Nia Lewis
Nkosi Nkululeko
Noel Quiñones
Nora Cooper
Ocean Vuong
Olivia Fantini
Olivia Gatwood
Ollie Schminkey
Pages Matam
Patrick Roche
Paul Tran
Phil Kaye
Rachel Wiley
Raven McGill
Reagan Myers
Rebeca Mae
Riley Zahn
RJ Walker
Rob Gibsun
Rob Mitchell
Rudy Francisco
Ryler Dustin
Sabrina Benaim
Safia Elhillo
Saidu Tejan-Thomas
Sam Cook
Sam Rush
Sam Sax
Sara Brickman
Sarah Kay
Sarah Ogutu
Sarina Morales
Scout Bostley
Sean Patrick Mulroy
Shasparay Lighteard
Shavontae Patrick
Shay Alexi Stewart
Sienna Burnett
Sierra DeMulder
Spencer Brownstein
Steven Willis
Tanesha Nicole
Taylor Seaberg
Taylor Steele
Thadra Sheridan
Theresa Davis
Tonya Ingram
Tucker Bryant
Vanessa Tahay
Victoria Morgan
Wil Gibson
Will Evans
Will Giles
Yesika Salgado
Zenaida Peterson
Zev Verdoner

Rudy Francisco – “Adrenaline Rush” (100K Views!)

“It must be nice to feel so safe you have to invent
new ways to put yourself in danger.”

Congratulations to Rudy on topping 100,000 views on this brilliant poem. Check out more from Rudy here and here, and keep an eye out for his book, Helium, coming out later this year!



And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!

Kevin Kantor & Sienna Burnett – “Phases” (250K Views!)

“If anyone tells you that you love wrong…tell them you’re sorry that
they’d rather live in darkness than learn to love your light.”

Congratulations to Kevin and Sienna on topping 250,000 views on this great poem. Check out more from them here and here.



And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!

Best of Button Week 99

“The truth hurts less when it is not parading
around in front of us.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Sabrina Benaim & Amanda Pressman. Congratulations poets!
While you’re here on our site, make sure to check out our books and merchandise in the Button Store, including books by Aziza Barnes, Danez Smith, Neil Hilborn and our NEW book from Aaron Coleman!

Guante – “Small Talk” (100K Views!)

“I am pulling myself from the magician’s hat night
after night and I have the scars to prove it.”

Congratulations to Guante on topping 100,000 views on this impressive poem. Check out more of Guante’s work in his book, A LOVE SONG, A DEATH RATTLE, A BATTLE CRY.



And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!

Olivia Gatwood – “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” (250K Views!)

“Once, I told you I was afraid of my father and for a moment,
I looked so human the audience lost interest.”

Congratulations to Olivia on topping 250,000 views on this excellent poem. Check out more of Olivia’s work in her brand new book, NEW AMERICAN BEST FRIEND.



And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!

Best of Button Week 98

“Too often I don’t tell people, people I love,
I am sad. Because I don’t think that’s something they
want to hear, because they love me.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Hieu Minh Nguyen & Mojdeh Stoakley. Congratulations poets!
While you’re here on our site, make sure to check out our books and merchandise in the Button Store, including books by Aziza Barnes, Danez Smith, Neil Hilborn and our NEW book from Aaron Coleman!

Button Poetry 2016 Chapbook Contest Semifinalists

Button Poetry Chapbook Contest Semifinalists

Exciting news! We’ll be announcing the finalists for the chapbook contest next week. For now, we’d like to recognize our semifinalists. We were very impressed by these manuscripts, and we wish we could’ve passed them on to the final round.

Nic Alea, SUMMER IN THE HOUSE OF ICHTHYO
Jackson Burgess, HOLY SMOKES
Elizabeth Catanese, RULES FOR SWIMMING
Amara Chaudhry, A SILENT EMANCIPATION
Ethan Chua, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN STORMS
Keno Evol, SO PLEASE NO POETS IN THE CHURCH
Hazem Fahmy, RED//JILD//PRAYER
Megan Foley, DEIXIS
Mo Fowler, RAISED TO BE SAVED
Geula Geurts, ALL THE GLORY OF THE KING’S DAUGHTER
Darla Himeles, FLESH ENOUGH
Khary Jackson, WANION
Perry Janes, THE ONLY HOME
LynleyShimat Lys, APPROPRIATE CITIES OF ORIGIN
Chrissy Montelli, HEART FLOAT
Jae Nichelle, LETTERS FROM MY DEMONS TO COMFORT ME
Jason Rusch, PROBLEMATIC QUEER LOVE
Sea Sharp, NEGROX
Andrea Vaughan, MAYBE & MEMORY
Junious Ward, BOY;LOUD