Toaster – “Mondays” (Button Live)


Featuring at Button Poetry Live.
“Hello, love. Hello, moment allowed above the surface like a dolphin at war.”

Don’t miss this brilliant poem from Toaster, 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, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Rudy Francisco, & our newest releases from Stevie Edwards and Claire Schwartz!

Kai Carlson-Wee – “Holes in the Mountain”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“Although the soul is a joke we tell to the part of ourselves we can touch, it’s only because the soul is a fire, and laughs at our sorrow, and has already survived us.”

Don’t miss this beautiful poem by Kai Carlson-Wee, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

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, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, & our newest releases from Stevie Edwards and Claire Schwartz!

Joyce Lee – “Mad Love” (100K Views!)

“Everything happens for a reason. For instance, I busted the windows out your car so you could get the air I assumed you were talking about when you said I was suffocating you.”

Congratulations to Joyce Lee on topping 100,000 views on this incredible poem. Check out more videos from Joyce 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, Donte Collins, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, and our newest releases from Claire Schwartz and Stevie Edwards!

Claire Schwartz – “behind the mechitza”


Performing at her book release in Minneapolis.

“you have been chosen to carry the heaviest thing.”

Don’t miss this phenomenal poem from Claire Schwartz, featuring at her book release party at Icehouse in Minneapolis.

Congrats on your release day, Claire! Make sure to check out Claire’s new book, BOUND, Winner of the 2016 Button Poetry Prize, 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, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, and our newest release from Stevie Edwards!

Stevie Edwards – “Sadness Workshop”


Performing at her book release in Minneapolis.

“This is important: you have to take the sadness for a walk twice a day but nothing too early. The sadness likes cracked sidewalks and large bodies of water. The sadness likes coffee shops and subway stops that are empty or crowded. The sadness likes extremes.”

Don’t miss this phenomenal poem from Stevie Edwards, featuring at her book release party at Icehouse in Minneapolis.

Congrats on your release day, Stevie! Make sure to check out Stevie’s new book, SADNESS WORKSHOP, Winner of the 2016 Button Poetry Prize, 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, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, William Evans, Rudy Francisco, and our newest release from Claire Schwartz!

Best of Button Week 149

“Fat girl walks into the doctor’s to ask about anti-depressants and gets prescribed exercise instead, because obviously her depression is because of her fat, and obviously fat bodies never exercise and stay fat.”




Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Rachel Wiley and Neil Hilborn. Congrats poets!

Keep an eye out for new releases from Rachel Wiley & Neil Hilborn, coming Spring 2018!

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, and our newest releases from Claire Schwartz and Stevie Edwards!

Joshua Nguyen – “My Father and I Trade Bedwetting Stories” (Button Live)


Performing at Button Poetry Live.
“My father grew up in Saigon. There was no middle class. Just rich, or bones along the road, waiting to be buried in broth, to feed their young to a soldier.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Joshua Nguyen, 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, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more!

Sabrina Benaim – “So, I’m Talking to Depression…”


Performing at her book release in Minneapolis.

“I have a mouth like a smoking gun that does not know where the bullets went.”

Don’t miss this phenomenal poem from Sabrina Benaim, performing at Icehouse in Minneapolis.

Check out Sabrina’s debut book, DEPRESSION & OTHER MAGIC TRICKS, 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, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco, & more.

Monique Adelle – “A Sonnet After Chopin’s Requiem” (Motionpoems)


A poetry film by Motionpoems

“You press your fingers to my spine, inhale, you pull me in and hold until I sound.”

Don’t miss this beautiful poem from Monique Adelle, filmed by Motionpoems.



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, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco, & more.

Mathias Jackson – “Kobe”


Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“Why our boys got to be men only after they expire?”

Don’t miss this awesome poem from Mathias 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 Neil Hilborn, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, William Evans, our newest release from Rudy Francisco, & more.