“I don’t look like most of my family, I look like the people
who hurt my family.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Jess Rizkallah, Max Binder & Morgan Crist. 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 and our JUST-RELEASED book from Hanif Abdurraqib!
Performing at SlamMN!
“My bed smelled like him today, and he’s never been in this one.”
Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Haley Mosley, performing at SlamMN! in Minneapolis.
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.
Performing at CUPSI 2016.
“It’s not just that you take what we create, it’s that it always gets
lost in translation.”
Don’t miss this excellent poem from Crystal Valentine and Aaliyah Jihad, performing at the 2016 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational. You can check out more from Crystal and Aaliyah here, here and here.
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.
Welcome back to another exciting installment of the Button Round-Up! This week we have some poems, an interview, and an Olympian! What are you waiting for? Get clicking!
“The Fireside Fiction Report: A Reader/Critic’s Perspective” by L.E.H Light
I genuinely hope those among you in any sort of publishing field take note of this first article. Recently, the Fireside Fiction Report revealed that out of 2,039 stories published in 2015, only 38 were written by black authors. Light’s commentary is smart and needed; check out and share this article, and hopefully some change can come.
Kevin Kantor Inspired By
This week, Kevin got an artist’s profile done by the people over at Ori Media. Though short, it is a compelling video, one that hopefully makes you want to check out Kevin’s amazing work. You can find some of his poems back at our YouTube channel!
The Flambard Poetry Prize
The Flambard Press, one of the UK’s most largely recognized independent presses, has opened submissions for poets who have not yet been published to have their first shot. Submissions will be open until October 31st. Check out the link for more details!
“Surviving the Survival” by David Winter
This week, The Poetry Foundation’s David Winter sat down for an interview with the brilliant poet Ocean Vuong. Ocean opens up about fear, family, self love, and more interesting topics. Read the interview, and check out some more of Ocean’s work when you’re done (and don’t miss our own interview between Ocean and Button author Hanif Abdurraqib).
Poems by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza
The Infoxicated Corner at The The Poetry released a poetry spotlight on the works of Joshua Jennifer Espinoza this week. The spotlight includes three poems, which should make for some nice weekend afternoon reading.
“Road to Rio is paved with poetry for runner Alexi Pappas” by Mary Jo Brooks
To round out this Round-Up, here’s a topical story about both the Olympics and poetry (bet you didn’t think I’d find one of those!) Alexi Pappas, an American long distance runner, recounts how poetry was a part of her life before track and how it continues to inspire and push her.
Is it over already? Looks like we’ll both have to check in again next week to see what wonderful links and articles the Internet has in store for us. See you then!
“Love arrives exactly when love is supposed to,
and love leaves exactly when love must.”
Congratulations to Button author Sam Sax on topping 100,000 views on this amazing poem! Sam’s book, A Guide to Undressing Your Monsters, is available here.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out the rest of our books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain and Hanif Abdurraqib!
Performing at Art Share LA.
“Multiple sclerosis is a rude man, uses many syllables, it talks a lot over you.”
Don’t miss this amazing poem from Edwin Bodney, performing at Art Share LA.
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.
Performing at Art Share LA.
“I saw her on that stage and swore there was a rifle in her mouth.”
Don’t miss this great poem from Ajanae Dawkins, performing during finals at the 2016 Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam in Columbus, Ohio.
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.
“Beware of men who enjoy girls who do not love themselves.
Surely, they will mistake your skin for an eclipse that you are ashamed
to witness.”
Congratulations to Raven Taylor on topping 100,000 views on this excellent poem!
And while you’re here, make sure to check out the rest of our books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain and Hanif Abdurraqib!
Performing at the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam.
“Paradise is a world where everything is a sanctuary and nothing is a gun.”
Don’t miss this incredible new poem from Danez Smith, performing during finals at the 2016 Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam in Columbus, Ohio. Check out Danez’s brilliant book here.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out all of 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.
Performing at Art Share LA.
“I don’t love my son the way I thought my mother should love me.”
Don’t miss this awesome poem from Jonterri Gadson, performing during the Button Poetry / YesYes Books showcase at AWP 2016.
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.
