Safia Elhillo – “Application for the Position of Abdelhalim Hafez’s Girl” (Motionpoems)

A poetry film by Motionpoems.

“I go quiet for days. I turn the color of mirrors. I turn the color of smoke.”

Don’t miss this marvelous poem by Safia Elhillo, filmed by Motionpoems. Join our mailing list and get notified for our next submission period!

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, our newest release from Olivia Gatwood & more.

Khary Jackson – “Past Lives of Darling Nikki” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“Fuck these guys, we’re perfect as we are.”

Don’t miss this remarkable poem from Khary Jackson, 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, or watch LIVE from our YouTube Channel.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Sabrina Benaim, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman & more.

Crystal Valentine & Aaliyah Jihad – “Hide Your Shea Butter” (250K Views!)

“It’s not just that you take what we create, it’s that it always gets
lost in translation.”

Congratulations to Crystal & Aaliyah on topping 250,000 views on this marvelous poem. Watch more from Crystal and Aaliyah 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 books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, and Aaron Coleman!

Melissa Lozada-Oliva – “Bitches” (250K Views!)

“The women in my family are bitches. Cranky bitches, stuck-up bitches, customer-service-turned-sour bitches.”

Congratulations to Melissa on topping 250,000 views on this magnificent poem. Pre-order your copy of Melissa’s book, Peluda, coming soon from Button Poetry.



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 books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, and Aaron Coleman!

Patrick Roche – “Siri: A Coping Mechanism” (500K Views!)

“Opening voicemails. He does not tell anyone he still has ones from his dead father. He will not delete them. He will not delete dead grandparents’ contact information. He will not delete anything.”

Congratulations to Patrick on topping 500,000 views on this amazing poem. Watch more from Patrick 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 books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, and Aaron Coleman!

Cortney Lamar Charleston – “How Do You Raise a Black Child?” (Motionpoems)

A poetry film by Motionpoems.

“How do you raise a Black child? From the dead. With pallbearers who are half as young as their faces suggest and twice the oxen they should be.”

Don’t miss this magnificent film from Motionpoems, inspired by Cortney Lamar Charleston. Join our mailing list and get notified for our next submission period!

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, our newest release from Olivia Gatwood & more.

Emi Mahmoud – “How to Translate a Joke” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“This joke that I heard in Arabic hurts just as much in English, and French, and in any other dialect.”

Don’t miss this brilliant poem from Emi Mahmoud, featuring at Button Poetry Live, June 2017. 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, or watch LIVE from our YouTube Channel.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Sabrina Benaim, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman & more.

Steve Currie – “Descrambled Eggs”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“I used to picture this body as a submarine, with me in a captain’s suit staring out through periscopic eyes.”

Don’t miss this marvelous poem from Steve Currie, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest. Join our mailing list and get notified for our next submission period!

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, our newest release from Olivia Gatwood & more.

Olivia Gatwood – “Backpedal”

Performing at her book release in St. Paul.

“i am not afraid of blood which is also part of being a girl.”

Don’t miss this spectacular poem from Olivia Gatwood, performing at her book release in St. Paul. Check out Olivia’s incredible book, New American Best Friend.

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, our newest release from Olivia Gatwood & more.