Steven Willis – “The First Time a Man Attempts to Fight His Father”


Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“It is the fear of a son never returning home that turns a father into the oppressor.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Steven Willis, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco, & more.

Sam Rush – “Self Portrait (Cock)”


Featuring at Button Poetry Live.
“We are all made of glass, waiting to be broken; only as dangerous as we are fragile.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Sam Rush, featuring at Button Poetry Live.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more!

Hanif Abdurraqib – “Ok, I’m Finally Ready to Say I’m Sorry for That One Summer”

Performing at his book release in Los Angeles.

“& when fall came, boys sat up in their beds alone & gasping while their hearts rattled out the ghosts of every unspoken love that dragged them there & then a whole country crawled itself across the ocean & went to war.”

Don’t miss this magnificent poem from Hanif Abdurraqib, performing at his book release at Art Share LA, in Los Angeles. Check out Hanif’s incredible debut book, “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much”.

Today is the last day of the 2017 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest! November 15th – January 5th, 2017-2018. Check out the full information and guidelines for the contest here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax, Olivia Gatwood, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.

Olivia Hall – “The Skinny List”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“I imagined cutting off pieces of me and giving them to boys in the hope that if they could not love all of me, maybe they could at least love part of me. Maybe that would be easier to swallow.”

Don’t miss this tremendous poem by Olivia Hall, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

Send us your poems! The 2017 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest is now open for submissions. November 15th – January 5th, 2017-2018. Check out the full information and guidelines for the contest here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.

Amir Safi – “Muslim Ban”


Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“To be Muslim is to watch your mosque set on fire and not say a word because you do not know yet if it was the supremacist or the fundamentalist. Which is to say you do not know yet whether you are expected to be outraged or apologize.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Amir Safi, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

Want to get your book published on Button? The 2017 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest is now open for submissions. November 15th – January 5th, 2017-2018. Check out the full information and guidelines for the contest here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco, & more.

Best of 2017 #1: T. Miller – “The Difference Between a Girlfriend and a Woman”

Best of 2017 #1: T. Miller – “The Difference Between a Girlfriend and a Woman”

“A girlfriend will come over to you house and help clean up your kitchen. A woman will come into your life and help clean up your credit.”

Heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2017! Coming in first on the list, “The Difference Between a Girlfriend and a Woman” by T. Miller. Congratulations T.!

Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.

Best of 2017 #2: Reagan Myers – “Depression Is Funny Like That”

Best of 2017 #2: Reagan Myers – “Depression Is Funny Like That”

“I can’t call in ‘sad’ to work, can’t go to the grocery store and go to the ‘sad’ aisle.”

Heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2017! Coming in second on the list, “Depression Is Funny Like That” by Reagan Myers. Congratulations Reagan!

Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.

William Evans – “New Year’s Eve Party at Eric’s House and the Black Boys Have Had Enough” (Button Live)


Featuring at Button Poetry Live.
“This is what shedding your old coat of skin in the suburbs looks like, pretending that you were never cut just so you can bleed again for an audience”
Don’t miss this outstanding poem from William Evans, featuring at Button Poetry Live.
Make sure to check out William Evans’ book, Still Can’t Do My Daughter’s Hair, now available!
Send us your poems! 2017 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest! November 15th – January 5th, 2017-2018. Check out the full information and guidelines for the contest here!
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more!

Best of 2017 #3: Neil Hilborn – “Me, But Happy”

Best of 2017 #3: Neil Hilborn – “Me, But Happy”

“We can’t really be sad if we’re both sad in the same place, right?”

Heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2017! Coming in third on the list, “Me, But Happy” by Neil Hilborn. Congratulations Neil!

Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.

Best of 2017 #4: Raych Jackson – “Period Rules”

Best of 2017 #4: Raych Jackson – “Period Rules”

“‘That time of the month’ has about double the amount of syllables as ‘period’.”

Heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2017! Coming in fourth on the list, “Period Rules” by Raych Jackson. Congratulations Raych!

Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Danez Smith, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.