2016 Chapbook Contest Winners!

2016 Chapbook Contest Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of our 2016 chapbook contest, Claire Schwartz and Stevie Edwards! Claire’s manuscript Bound and Stevie’s manuscript Sadness Workshop will be forthcoming later this year on Button Poetry’s press. Congratulations as well to Ben Alfaro, who was selected as runner-up for his manuscript, Fantasma.

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Thanks to our finalist judges, Jeffrey McDaniel and Aziza Barnes, for selecting these manuscripts, as well as to everyone who submitted work to the contest!

Michael Szynal – “10 Things You Should Know If We Date”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“My self-esteem is a helium balloon that’s been in the hospital room of my dying convictions for just a little too long.”

Don’t miss this amazing poem from Michael Szynal, performing at Button Poetry Live. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.

Edwin Bodney – “When a Boy Tells You He Loves You” (1,000,000 Views!)

“That was when you learned that when a boy says I love you
he means I am getting ready to be inconsistent with you now.”

Congratulations to Edwin on topping 1,000,000 views on this beautiful poem. Check out more from Edwin here and here.



And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!

Ebony Stewart – “Happy Father’s Day”

Performing at Southern Fried 2016.

“He say he tired of not being the hero
in my poems, I say me too.”

Don’t miss this great poem from Ebony Stewart, performing at the 2016 Southern Fried Poetry Slam in Greensboro, NC. Support Button on Patreon so we can continue to broadcast these amazing poets!
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including Button t-shirts in both female and unisex cuts, and books and more by many of your favorite Button artists.

Rosetta Peters – “America”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“America, a laboring woman, she’s been at it for 240 years
trying to push new life out.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Rosetta Peters, performing at the Button Poetry Live WOWPS qualifying slam, February 2016. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.

Suzi Q. Smith – “Sweetback”

Performing at the Great Plains Poetry Pile-Up

“We’ve been through a lot, America. I think that now
for every one of our children you allow to be murdered
I will make two.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Suzi Q. Smith, performing at the Great Plains Poetry Pile-Up in Lincoln, NE. Support Button on Patreon so we can continue to broadcast these amazing poets!

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.

Duncan Slagle – “Hahahaha” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“The rape joke is that we finished the pizza the next morning.”

Don’t miss this amazing poem from Duncan Slagle, performing at Button Poetry Live. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.

Anna Binkovitz – “The Mirror” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“I spent so long staring at my reflection,
I began to love the mirror as much as I hated
the girl inside of it.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Anna Binkovitz, performing at Button Poetry Live, November 2016. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul.

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax & more.