Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“If I am alive now it is because of how many times I have failed.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Michael Lee, performing at Button Poetry Live in St. Paul, MN.

Grab your copy of Michael’s powerful book, THE ONLY WORLDS WE KNOW , 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, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Dave Harris!

Michael Lee Vikre is a Norwegian-American writer, educator, abolitionist and anarchist. Author of The Only Worlds We Know (Button Poetry, 2019), he has received grants and scholarships from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the LOFT Literary Center, and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. Winner of the Scotti Merrill Award for poetry from the Key West Literary Seminar and the Arthur Lynn Andrews Award for Fiction from Cornell University, Michael’s writing has appeared in the Massachusetts Review, The Missouri Review, Ninth Letter, Copper Nickel, and Best New Poets among others. He holds an Ed.M in Arts Education from Harvard University and an MFA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Cornell University. Currently, he coordinates a BA program, in which he also teaches, in Individualized and Interdisciplinary Studies for incarcerated students in Minnesota. He lives in North Minneapolis.

“I think it’s regrettable that we need to see ourselves in someone before we care about their struggle.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Rola Alasmar, Crystal Valentine, & Anthony McPherson! Congrats Poets!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Phil Kaye, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, Dave Harris, & our newest release from Michael Lee!

Performing at Storytellers VIII.

“Most terrorist attacks in the United States over the past 200 years have been carried out by white American men. I have never seen a news headline calling a white American man a terrorist.”

Don’t miss this magnificent poem from Carlos Andrés Gómez, performing at Storytellers VIII.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Michael Lee!

Featuring at Icehouse.

“What do you call womanhood if not endurance? The way we withstand that which we did not believe withstandable.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Brenna Twohy, featuring at Icehouse in Minneapolis.

Brenna’s forthcoming book, SWALLOWTAIL, is now available to pre-order!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Michael Lee!

“The strongest I have ever felt was the first time I said ‘no’ to a drink.”

Congratulations to Michael Lee for topping 500,000 views on this incredible poem! Watch more videos from Michael here and here.



Grab your copy of Michael’s powerful book, THE ONLY WORLDS WE KNOW , now available for pre-order!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Dave Harris!

Featuring at Icehouse.

“Twenty-eight years later and everyone still wants him for his scars. The five on his stomach from a celly in San Quentin, a toothbrush chiseled to a shiv.”

Don’t miss this heart-wrenching poem from Desireé Dallagiacomo, featuring at Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN.

Desireé’s book, SINK, is now available to order! Get your copy now!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Dave Harris!