Performed at Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN
“He is the maple that didn’t drip too far from the scarred family tree.”
Don’t miss this poem from Usman Hameedi, performing at Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN
Get Usman’s book, Staying Right Here.
“
Performed at the Strike Theater in Minneapolis, MN
“You want me to be a good boyfriend, but you don’t think I’m a boy. You think I already know how to fuck you because I used to be you.”
Don’t miss this poem from James Hartzer, performing at the Strike Theater in Minneapolis, MN
Shop Button Poetry.
Performed at IWPS 2015
“Did you forget that we are children of God, Dylann? And who doesn’t love unexpected trips home?”
Don’t miss this poem from Steven Willis, performing at IWPS 2015
Get Steven’s book, A Peculiar People.
It’s Publication Day for About Time!
Grab a copy of Neil Hilborn’s newest collection.
We have limited SIGNED copies still available!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Neil Hilborn returns with the poignant and profound collection About Time. Balancing between devastation and perseverance, About Time shares the struggle to maintain mental health during the recent global crises.
With his distinctly conversational tone and dark humor, Hilborn breaks down the cycle of mental illness—small improvements, setbacks, and the process of recovery. This collection fights against itself as the poems try to find a place for hope, love, and goodness in a lonely, terrifying world—ultimately, inspiring belief in and connection to all the small joys that we can find.
Fans new and old will be stunned by Hilborn’s third collection. Continuing in the legacy of his previous works, About Time is hot soup for the troubled soul and absolutely cannot be missed.
ABOUT NEIL
Neil Hilborn is a best-selling author and, with over 150 million views to his credit, he is the most-watched poet ever. He has performed in 41 states and 8 countries, and in 2019 alone he drove coast to coast five times while on tour. His favorite touring moments are: crying while meeting a wombat in Australia; spending two weeks in Edinburgh at the Fringe Festival; meeting Dionne Warwick at the Smithsonian; and putting 12,000 miles on a minivan in two months with his fellow road goblin Mark. His favorite sandwiches come from: Primanti Bros in Pittsburgh, Black’s BBQ in Austin, one specific Publix in Tampa, and a torta truck he found while stranded in Pasco, Washington. One time on stage he accidentally punched the microphone and broke his wedding ring, and thanks to years of therapy he did not interpret this as a sign. His preferred stage entrance music is “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, during which he walks very slowly. In addition to touring and writing he runs workshops on craft, performance, and how to apologize for ignoring texts. He and his wife live on a hobby farm outside Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where they adopt too many animals.
Performed at The 2023 Roxbury Poetry Festival in Boston, MA
“The eldest daughter is the blade that slices the night sky open so the sun can lunge forth.”
Don’t miss this poem from Hailey Tran, performing at The 2023 Roxbury Poetry Festival in Boston, MA
Shop Button Poetry.
Performed at Poets & Pints in Minneapolis, MN
“”I’ve left no trace, no trail, but prints along the shore, they too will vanish in the tide.””
Don’t miss this poem from Ty Chapman, performing at Poets & Pints in Minneapolis, MN
Get Ty’s book, Tartarus.
“
Performed at Rustbelt 2015
“”It is easy to hurt someone who looks just like you, especially when you hate yourself.””
Don’t miss this poem from Olivia Gatwood, performing at Rustbelt 2015
Get Olivia’s book, New American Best Friend.
“
Performed at IWPS 2015
“So where had I failed in this chameleon training, how could he tell?”
Don’t miss this poem from Patrick Roche, performing at IWPS 2015
Get Patrick’s book, A Socially Acceptable Breakdown.
Performed at WOWPS 2023 in Baltimore, MD
“And even though it hurts we’ve got to pour salt water on our wounds.”
Don’t miss this poem from Selena Rose, performing at WOWPS 2023 in Baltimore, MD
Shop Button Poetry.
It’s Publication Day for The Rent Eats First!
Grab a copy of Eric Sirota’s collection.
We have limited SIGNED copies still available!
ABOUT THE BOOK
With a captivating blend of serious urgency and sarcastic wit, The Rent EATS First moves through personal stories and cultural moments to develop a broad picture of systemic inequality. Sirota interweaves his personal experiences as a public interest lawyer, representing low income tenants, with biting critique on the broader social and governmental systems that breed disparities. This collection reminds us that the political is emotional as Sirota shares personal struggles with mental health, self-image, and relationships in the face of social crisis.
Through dynamic and poignant form, Sirota conveys the chaos of an ineffectual, discriminatory system. An earnest look at the difficulties of fighting a system from within, The Rent EATS First is a collection that needs to be read.
PRAISE FOR ERIC
The Rent Eats First is a courthouse diorama with unfettered self-awareness—what if foreclosure comes for more than just the home? We are told “the only difference between a sword and a plowshare is what you’re cutting.” Sirota inhabits several voices, each a blade—where are we aimed, what is aimed at us?
—Junious ‘Jay’ Ward, Composition
In The Rent Eats First, everyone must stand trial. Sins do not discriminate; even god must atone. Sirota balances commentary on housing law and political unrest with comedy. The Rent Eats First is a demonstration against landlords, property value, and the legal system.
—jason b. crawford, Year of the Unicorn Kidz
All rise for The Rent Eats First. Sirota breaks down the language of law and reforges it into a revolutionary manifesto. Satirical and absurd, Sirota’s poems are blades. Every page, he sharpens a new one and hands it to you. If these poems don’t get you psyched to smash capitalism, I don’t know what will.
—Zach Goldberg, I’d Rather Be Destroyed