Bianca Phipps – Almosts (1M Views!)

“Words can only help you if you speak them.”

Congratulations to Bianca Phipps for topping 1,000,000 views on this phenomenal poem! Watch more from Bianca here and here.

Bianca’s fantastic debut book, CROWN NOBLE, is now available!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Natasha T. Miller, Phil Kaye, Dave Harris, Kevin Kantor, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest releases from Andrea Gibson and Rachel Wiley!

Bianca Phipps – “Stay With Me” (500K Views!)

“Handing over all my secrets is like giving someone with trembling fingers a loaded gun and putting it against my heart.”

Congratulations to Bianca Phipps on topping 500,000 views on this amazing poem! Watch more videos from Bianca here and here!



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Dave Harris!

Best of 2018 #7: Bianca Phipps – “When the Boy Says He Loves My Body”

Best of 2018 #7: Bianca Phipps – “When the Boy Says He Loves My Body”

“When the boy says he loves my body, but does not say he loves me, I let him.”

Heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2018! Coming in seventh on the list, “When the Boy Says He Loves My Body” by Bianca Phipps. Congratulations Bianca!

Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel.



And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and posters, and books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Neil Hilborn, Phil Kaye, and our newest release from Andrea Gibson!

Bianca Phipps – “When the Boy Says He Loves My Body” (100K Views!)

“When the boy says he loves my body, but does not say he loves me, I let him.”

Congratulations to Bianca Phipps on topping 100,000 views on this marvelous poem! Watch more videos from Bianca 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 posters, and books by Olivia Gatwood, Donte Collins, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Neil Hilborn, & our newest release from Phil Kaye!

In-Depth Look: Bianca Phipps – “When the Boy Says He Loves My Body”

In-Depth Look: Bianca Phipps – “When the Boy Says He Loves My Body”

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.

“I find my body is a locked door. I find I locked myself out.”

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Write-up by Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre


Get Guante’s Book Here
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This whole series is built around the idea of “sitting with a poem, meditating on it, and re-reading it multiple times” in order to come to a deeper understanding of and appreciation for that poem. That process, however, is so much bigger than poetry. The basic idea of thinking more critically about our language, our actions, our culture– everything– is valuable whether or not you have any interest in writing and performing poems.

This piece captures some of why that is. The entire poem is built around a “catalyst moment:” there is an action (when the boy says he loves my body, but does not say he loves me), and a reaction. That reaction is full of imagery, metaphor, and a deeper analysis of the catalyst, even if nothing really “happens” on a literal level– the poem is a meditation, an opportunity to cultivate within ourselves a fuller understanding of that line that kicks everything off.

Some of my favorite poems are built like this– give us a scenario that does not at all seem special, and then illuminate why it is special. Give us a “simple” image, and then show us its complexity. In this poem’s case, give us a “throwaway” bit of dialogue (as something like this catalyst statement could potentially be interpreted, at least by its speaker), and then explore its layers, its nuance, its impact.

For more from Bianca Phipps: Facebook | Twitter

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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!

Bianca Phipps – “Stay With Me” (250K Views!)

“Handing over all my secrets is like giving someone with trembling fingers a loaded gun and putting it against my heart.”

Congratulations to Bianca on topping 250,000 views on this brilliantly crafted poem. Check out more videos from Bianca 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, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Rudy Francisco, and our newest releases from Claire Schwartz and Stevie Edwards!

Best of 2017 #6: Bianca Phipps – “Stay With Me”

Best of 2017 #6: Bianca Phipps – “Stay With Me”

“Handing over all my secrets is like giving someone with trembling fingers a loaded gun and putting it against my heart.”

Heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2017! Coming in sixth on the list, “Stay With Me” by Bianca Phipps. Congratulations Bianca!

Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel.



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, our newest release from Rudy Francisco & more.

Bianca Phipps – “Stay With Me” (100K Views!)

“Handing over all my secrets is like giving someone with trembling fingers a loaded gun and putting it against my heart.”

Congratulations to Bianca on topping 100,000 views on this brilliantly crafted poem. Check out more videos from Bianca 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, Sabrina Benaim, and our newest release from Melissa Lozada-Oliva!

Best of Button Week 132

“Hey girl, I’ve got a good relationship with my momma and I’m looking for a serious commitment.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Natalie Choi and Bianca Phipps. Congratulations poets!

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, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, and our newest release from Melissa Lozada-Oliva.