Chris Moua – “Of the Asian Body” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live

“Your face is the exotic warfare
he has been designed to take and save.”

Don’t miss this great poem from Chris Moua, performing at Button Poetry Live. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the live show, every first Monday at 8:00 PM in downtown Saint Paul.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all 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.

Aziza Barnes – “I Could Ask, but I Think They Use Tweezers”

Performing at AWP 2016

“Blood stops moving to the big towns. The brain is a big town.
The heart is a big town.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Aziza Barnes, performing at the Button Poetry / YesYes Books showcase at AWP 2016. Check out Aziza’s book here.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all 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.

Jess Howard – “Luminescence” (Southern Fried)

Performing at Southern Fried

“People do not snap into existence
just because we decide to start noticing.”

Don’t miss this excellent poem from Honey Sanaa, performing at the 2016 Southern Fried Poetry Slam in Greensboro, NC. Check out more of Honey’s work here.

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.

Phil Kaye – “Repetition” (250K Views!)

“You watch the sun set too often, it just becomes 6 PM.
You make the same mistake over and over, you’ll stop calling it a mistake.”

Congratulations to Phil on topping 250,000 views on this beautiful poem.



Check out more of Phil’s work here and here.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out our books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain and Hanif Abdurraqib!

Melissa Lozada-Oliva – “Tonsils” (Button Live)

Featuring at Button Poetry Live

“And the math teacher keeps comin’ in between them
with the red cup, asking them to leave room for Jesus.”

Don’t miss this excellent poem from Melissa Lozada-Oliva, performing at Button Poetry Live. Check out more from Melissa here and here.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all 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.

Best of Button Week 84

“They called me girl. Girl, as if
that was something I wouldn’t ever want to be.”


Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Jamie Mortara & Ebony Stewart!
While you’re here on our site, make sure to check out our books and merchandise in the Button Store, including books by Aziza Barnes, Danez Smith, Neil Hilborn and our NEW book from Hanif Abdurraqib!

Akeem Olaj – “Black Boys, Die Easy” (Southern Fried)

Performing at Southern Fried

“To be a black boy at this moment in time
is to have all your bones broken & still be expected to stand.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Akeem Olaj, 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.

Ollie Schminkey – “Boobs” (500K Views!)

“My body is not wrong.
The way people talk about my body is wrong.
But my body is the only thing I can change.”

Congratulations to Ollie on topping 500,000 views on this fantastic poem. Help support Button Poetry so we can continue broadcasting all these artists!
Check out more of Ollie’s work here and here.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out our books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain and Hanif Abdurraqib!

Hanif Abdurraqib – “All the Gangbangers Forgot about the Drive-By”

Featuring at Button Poetry Live

“We all have to keep the dirt from underneath
the fingernails of our mothers.”

Don’t miss this stunning poem from Hanif Abdurraqib, performing at Button Poetry Live. Check out Hanif’s incredible debut book here.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all 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.