Filmed by The Strivers Row

“I wanted to enter the downpour in my nightgown, let it drown me in the nostalgia that I am yet too young to make a mantra of.”

Don’t miss this beautiful poem from Alysia Harris, filmed by The Strivers Row.

Check out the 2021 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest! Open November 15, 2021 – January 10, 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 George Abraham, Neil Hilborn, Michael Lee, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest releases from Reagan Myers & L.E. Bowman!

“This is the story of the first Muslims in America.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s addition: Farah Habad! Congrats Poet!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Andrea Gibson, Omar Holmon, Neil Hilborn, Porsha Olayiwola, Azura Tyabji & Jackson Neal, Blythe Baird, Akosua Zimba Afiriyie-Hwedie, and our newest release from L.E. Bowman!

“Sexism is a family heirloom that we’ve been passing down for generations.”

Congratulations to Rudy Francisco for topping 250,000 views on this incredible poem! Watch more from Rudy here and here.

The Limited Edition of Rudy’s incredible book, Helium is now available!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Javon Johnson, Natasha T. Miller, Ollie Schminkey, & our newest release from Azura Tyabji & Jackson Neal!

Performed by Carlos Andrés Gómez

“Forget beating traffic, leave your car in the parking lot. Let the tears stain your face as you run through the rain, your arms outstretched, alive.”

Don’t miss this inspiring poem from Carlos Andrés Gómez.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by George Abraham, Hanif Abdurraqib, Michael Lee, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest releases from Reagan Myers & L.E. Bowman!

Lauren E. Bowman is the author of three poetry collections, The Evolution of a Girl (Black Castle Media Group), What I Learned from the Trees (Button Poetry), and her latest, Shapeshifter (Button Poetry).

Lauren’s work often delves into the intricate relationship between humans and nature, and how these often overlooked, everyday interactions affect us as individuals, families, and communities. She also focuses heavily on all facets of womanhood, including the shifting roles and definitions that we face as we change and age.

Being a fulltime working mother and a parttime writer, Lauren pulls much of her inspiration from the capricious lives we tackle every day. Through sharing her own struggles with relationships and self-acceptance, she seeks to encourage others to learn from and rise above their own difficulties and doubts, and to find a place of reflection, empowerment, and growth.