Best of Button Week 124

“My mother now wears the world: Dresses herself with the tall grass, blushes her cheeks with red clay, she laughs and a forest fire awakens, she laughs and every mountain bows to her sharp thunder, she laughs and every cicada begins to sing.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Donte Collins, Chestina Craig, & Hieu Minh Nguyen.

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
Donte Collins!

Noel Quiñones – “8 Confessions of My Tongue”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“I’ve worn so many of my family member’s stories that I confuse my childhood for theirs.”

Don’t miss this marvelous poem from Noel Quiñones, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest. Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Franny Choi – “Whiteness Walks into a Bar”

Performing at Rustbelt 2016.

“Whiteness, you are a bad joke everyone’s too uncomfortable to laugh at.”

Don’t miss this great poem from Franny Choi, performing at the 2016 Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam in Columbus, Ohio. 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.

Sam Rush – “Wisdom Teeth” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“What is written beneath our skin does not always fit inside our mouths.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem by Sam Rush, featuring at Button Poetry Live, December 2016. 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.

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 & more.

Patrick Roche – “The Perfect Panic Attack” (250K Views!)

“Your arms and legs will go numb starting at your hands and feet, every twitch and tingle an attempt to run for your life.”

Congratulations to Patrick on topping 250,000 views on this powerful poem. Check out 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 new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!

Bernard Ferguson – “3 Poems on Resistance”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“The sharpest blade I have is where I place my body.”

Don’t miss this excellent poem from Bernard Ferguson, featuring at Button Poetry Live, March 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.

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 & more.

Will Giles – “Anatomy of a Storm” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“What is art to an empty belly? What is a poem to a power outage? What is a prayer to a flood?”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Will Giles, performing at Button Poetry Live, September 2016. 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.

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 & more.

Rachel Wiley – “Paper Babies” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“They don’t make Hallmark cards for your first pregnancy scare.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Rachel Wiley, performing at Button Poetry Live, July 2016. 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.

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 & more.

Rudy Francisco – “My Honest Poem” (100K Views!)

“My hobbies include editing my life story, hiding behind metaphors, and trying to convince my shadow I’m someone worth following.”

Congratulations to Rudy Francisco on topping 100,000 views on his poem! You can check out this performance with an exclusive intro on our Button Poetry Live EP I, and watch more videos of Rudy 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!