Ariana Brown – “Superpower”

Performing at AWP

“My love is a superpower. Got it from my mama who gave me her blood and my daddy’s last name. I am named after a love that refused to break.”

Don’t miss this inspiring poem from Ariana Brown, performing at AWP in San Antonio, TX

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Ebony Stewart, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Topaz Winters!

Steven Willis – “The Dead Unarmed Black Man the Police Shot Last Week Had a Funeral Today”

Performed by Steven Willis

“I’m not the right’s monster, I’m not the left’s martyr. I’m just dead.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Steven Willis, performing for #theoneactseries.

Get Steven’s phenomenal book, A Socially Acceptable Breakdown.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Neil Hilborn, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Topaz Winters!

Phil Kaye – “Teeth”

Performing at Gray Area

“Fear of joy is the darkest of captivities.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Phil Kaye, performing at Gray Area in San Francisco, CA.

Get your copy of Phil’s debut book, DATE & TIME, now available!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Natasha T. Miller, Ollie Schminkey, Rudy Francisco, L.E. Bowman, Akosua Zimba Afiriyie-Hwedie, and our newest release from Topaz Winters!

Daniel – “Thanksgiving Dinner with Your Host, Bulimia”

Performing at Park Square Theatre

“Recovery is a choice. It is one you have to believe you can make for yourself. It is not sink or swim. It is getting out of the water.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Daniel, performing at Park Square Theatre in Saint Paul, MN

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Ebony Stewart, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Steven Willis!

Ebony Stewart – “Burnt Sugar”

Performed at the Button Studio

“Is darkness only ever thought of as sinister? Or is my villain origin story placed in an idea that I should still have to save a world that excludes or refuses to choose me?”

Don’t miss this awesome poem from Ebony Stewart, performed at the Button Studio in Minneapolis, MN.

Ebony’s spectacular books, BloodFresh and Home.Girl.Hood. are now available!

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Steven Willis!

Patrick Roche – “Canonization”

Performed by Patrick Roche

“Saint of the quiet anxiety / Of the off-brand panic attack / Saint of attacking”

Don’t miss this great poem from Patrick Roche, performed and recorded in his home.

Get Patrick’s incredible book, A Socially Acceptable Breakdown.

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Adam Falkner, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Ebony Stewart, and our newest release from Steven Willis!

TaneshaNicole – “Calling in Black”

Performing at Park Square Theatre

“When I call into a job, it’s usually because I have a fever, cold, the flu, feel so fatigued it hurts to move. I cannot tell my boss that I am sick of being Black. Can’t tell her I won’t be in today because there’s another Trayvon, Charleston, Ferguson in my newsfeed.”

Don’t miss this great poem from Tanesha Nicole, performing Park Square Theatre in Saint Paul, MN.

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Ebony Stewart, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Steven Willis!

Michael Mlekoday – “The Night the Owner of Our Second Favorite Bar Put Ten Bucks into the Jukebox”

Performed at the Button Studio

“‘Tom Purty,’ you called him, your body swelling with desire like your first acoustic in summer. The one you learned on until the neighbor boy smashed it like in the videos.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Michael Mlekoday, performing at the Button Studio in Minneapolis, MN.

Get Michael’s incredible book, All Earthly Bodies.

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Steven Willis!

Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre – “The Art of Taking the L [Re-release]”

Performed at the Button Studio

“We can talk about guns, we can talk about access to mental health, but why aren’t we talking about men?”

Don’t miss this phenomenal poem from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre, performed at the Button Studio in Minneapolis, MN.

Get Guante’s outstanding book, NOT A LOT OF REASONS TO SING, BUT ENOUGH.

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Steven Willis!

Carlos Andrés Gómez – “Gifted”

Performed at Main Street Players

“It took years for people to read what everyone thought was Da Vinci’s own invented language when all he did was just write backwards.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Carlos Andrés Gómez, performed at Main Street Players in Miami Lakes, FL.

Submit a cover of your favorite poem to our 2021 Button Poetry Cover Contest! Open NOW – May 16, 2022. More info and full guidelines here!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Steven Willis!