Nora Cooper – “I Won’t Write Your Obituary” (500 Views!)

“People will confuse my tongue with your tombstone and try to plant daisies in my throat.”

Congratulations to Nora Cooper on topping 500,000 views on this wonderful poem. Watch more videos from Nora 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 Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, Donte Collins, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, Guante, Rachel Wiley, and our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Raych Jackson – “Seven Thoughts on Job and Depression”


Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“‘God makes no mistakes’ is the string that keeps us tied to him.”

Don’t miss this marvelous poem from Raych Jackson, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

In-Depth Look: Isha Camara – “Loudest Burial”

In-Depth Look: Isha Camara – “Loudest Burial”

Appreciating poetry is often about patience: sitting with a poem, meditating on it, and re-reading it multiple times. With spoken word, we don’t always get a chance to do that. This series is about taking that chance, and diving a little deeper into some of the new poems going up on Button.

“Eye for an eye? More like tooth for whole skull.”

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Write-up by Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre


Get Guante’s Book Here
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The stereotype about spoken word is that it’s all “big,” capital-P Political Poems, and there is some truth in that. When the stage is one of the only public forums we have to discuss the things that we care about, it’s only natural that it becomes a platform for work that engages with the world. That stereotype, however, often seems to be framed negatively, as though “political poems” were inherently hollow, just “ranting and raving” without any craft or heart.

This poem is a great counterpoint to that, showing how a poem can be both explicitly political and very much grounded, concrete, and human. From “the hands of your loved ones,” to a mother’s voice, to a clear-eyed view of Obama’s legacy, this isn’t a poem about “those people over there,” a stumble that some attempts at political poetry make; the poem finds a way to comment on world events through the lens of personal experience.

In “Why Authoritarians Attack the Arts,” scholar and poet Eve Ewing writes: “Art creates pathways for subversion, for political understanding and solidarity among coalition builders. Art teaches us that lives other than our own have value.” I’m hearing this poem in that context; the work that this poem is doing is important, and is work that we (especially those of us who are poets) can and should contribute to as well.

Hear another one of Isha Camara’s poems here!

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While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Melissa Lozada-Oliva – “Lip/Stain/Must/Ache”


Featuring at Icehouse in Minneapolis.

“It doesn’t matter if I can remember the passage correctly, because I remember the way it made me feel.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Melissa Lozada-Oliva, featuring at her book release party at Icehouse in Minneapolis.

Get your copy of Melissa’s stellar book, PELUDA, now available!



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Best of Button Week 160

“I am learning that the difference between a garden and a graveyard is only what you choose to put in the ground.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Rudy Francisco, Jared Singer, & Neil Hilborn. Congrats poets!

While you’re here on our site, make sure to check out our books and merchandise in the Button Store, including books by Danez Smith, Olivia Gatwood, Neil Hilborn, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, Stevie Edwards, Claire Schwartz, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Omar Holmon – “Jesus Christ Super Toaster” (Button Live)


Featuring at Button Poetry Live.

“I told my ex that I didn’t pray. I believe in God, but it’s just something that I didn’t do. After this discovery, she said she didn’t know if she could date me anymore.”

Don’t miss this hilarious poem from Omar Holmon, featuring at Button Poetry Live.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

T. Miller – “An Open Letter to Raven Symoné” (Button Live)


Featuring at Button Poetry Live.

“If you tear the part that says ‘peanut’ off of a peanut butter jar, that does not make it butter. That does not make it any less brown, any more yellow.”

Don’t miss this magnificent poem from T. Miller, featuring at Button Poetry Live.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Hasani Harris – “Brag” (Button Live)


Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“Everybody wants to grow up and be somebody in the limelight, yet there are so many of us that die without even a gravestone to keep us comfortable.”

Don’t miss this extraordinary poem from Hasani Harris, performing at Button Poetry Live.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Sabrina Benaim – “What I Told the Doctor, the Second Time” (Button Live)


Featuring at Button Poetry Live.

“Everything is in slow motion again.”

Don’t miss this beautiful poem from Sabrina Benaim, featuring at Button Poetry Live.

Get your copy of Sabrina’s debut book, DEPRESSION & OTHER MAGIC TRICKS, Goodreads finalist for Best Poetry Books of 2017.



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Guante, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Jared Singer – “Just Take a Shower” (250K Views!)

“The hardest thing I ever did was take a shower.”

Congratulations to Jared Singer on topping 250,000 views on this wonderful poem. Watch more videos from Jared 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 Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, Donte Collins, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, Guante, Rachel Wiley, and our newest release from Neil Hilborn!