“I know a few things about tomorrow. It’s kind of like a shadow, it’s hard to see when the sun isn’t bright but regardless it is there.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist. Today’s additions: Chelsea Guevara, Liv, Shasparay, Lyrical Faith, Meccamorphosis, Rain, Darius Simpson, and Scout Bostley! Congrats Poets!

Come back each week to see our newest and most popular videos.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, or check out our newest release from Topaz Winters!

Performed at The 2023 Roxbury Poetry Festival in Boston, MA

“Masculinity is just a costume I wear for safety, a performance which manhood has become the greatest theater for.”

Don’t miss this poem from Jarvis, performing at The 2023 Roxbury Poetry Festival in Boston, MA

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Performed at The Town Hall in NY, during Black History Month 2024

“I still see the blue beating black until you see red and white. Is this your stars and stripes?”

Don’t miss this poem from Amiyah Anderson, performing at The Town Hall in NY, during Black History Month 2024

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Performed at IWPS 2015

“Dandelions are flowers in other countries, we just don’t find them pretty here.”

Don’t miss this poem from Junious ‘Jay’ Ward, performing at IWPS 2015

Get Jay’s book, Composition.

Performed at Poets & Pints in Minneapolis, MN

“There he is: Another fatherless son, ever clouding away like a drift.”

Don’t miss this poem from Ty Chapman, performing at Poets & Pints in Minneapolis, MN.

Get Ty’s book, Tartarus.

“On days like this, I think of all things I could be, and I choose to be happy.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist. Today’s additions: Sherrika Mitchell, Ollie Schminkey, Asma, Sarah Kay, and Gabby Elvessie! Congrats Poets!

Come back each week to see our newest and most popular videos.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, or check out our newest release from Edythe Rodriguez!

Performed at Camp Bar in St. Paul, MN

“Drowning? Consider this: What is desire? Who or what devours what or whom?””

Don’t miss this poem from Aaron Coleman, performing at Camp Bar in St. Paul, MN

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Performed NorthBeast Regional 2023 Finals

“In a moment we felt on top of the world, in a moment we forgot that tomorrow wasn’t promised.”

Don’t miss this poem from Seth Larbi, performing NorthBeast Regional 2023 Finals

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Performed Strike Theater in Minneapolis, MN

“Everyone tells me that my dad will always be watching over me, and I’m like, Shut up I’m just trying to masturbate.”

Don’t miss this poem from Ollie Schminkey, performing Strike Theater in Minneapolis, MN

Get Ollie’s book, Where I Dry the Flowers.

Hailey M. Tran is a DC-based and Lowell-raised dreamer. They are a queer Asian American Latina spoken word and performance poet, who believes in the transformative power of storytelling and art.

Hailey has their BA in Political Science and Social Work from Simmons University and is currently a high school history teacher. Passionate about helping students understand their ancestral memories, Tran’s pedagogy uses the creative process to interrogate structural and interpersonal violence. They strive to help their students to better understand racial, gendered, and queer identities, and connect with their community at large.

Hailey has competed in MassLEAP’s Louder Than a Bomb with FreeVerse! and the 2018 Brave New Voices Festival where they advanced to Final Stage. They have served as a Youth Spoken Word Leader for the Boston cohort. Hailey’s debut collection, an everyday occurrence, is forthcoming by Button Poetry.