Crystal Valentine – How to Lay Your Edges

Performed by Crystal Valentine

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Crystal Valentine

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, or check out our newest release from Robert Wood Lynn!

Best of Button Week 335

“I guess some people are cursed enough to live forever and not realize everyone around them done evaporated into a ghost.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s addition: Crystal Valentine! Congrats Poet!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Andrea Gibson, Omar Holmon, Neil Hilborn, Porsha Olayiwola, Azura Tyabji & Jackson Neal, Blythe Baird, Akosua Zimba Afiriyie-Hwedie, and our newest release from Reagan Myers!

Crystal Valentine – “Conversation Overheard on the Corner of 167th & Jerome Avenue”

Performing at Button Poetry Live

“I guess some people are cursed enough to live forever and not realize everyone around them done evaporated into a ghost.”

Don’t miss this compelling poem from Crystal Valentine, performing at Park Square Theatre in Saint Paul, MN.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Michael Lee, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest releases from Akosua Zimba Afiriyie-Hwedie & Reagan Myers!

Crystal Valentine – “Tempest” (100K Views!)

“I was never prey, but I was always preyed upon.”

Congratulations to Crystal Valentine on topping 100,000 views on this powerfully built poem! Watch more videos from Crystal 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, Dave Harris, & our newest release from Michael Lee!

Crystal Valentine – “What I Learned at Afropunk” (Button Live)

Featuring at Button Poetry Live.

“Black girl loses her face. White girl finds it on outside the mosh pit. Slips it on over her straight blonde hair.”

Don’t miss this terrific poem from Crystal Valentine, 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 Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Michael Lee!

Crystal Valentine – “Ode to Cardi B” (Button Live)

Featuring at Button Poetry Live.

“Ode to the Bronx girls. To the girls who get buried while still screaming.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Crystal Valentine, 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 Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Dave Harris!

Crystal Valentine – “I Am Black Before Woman in February” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“I am Black before woman in February, woman before Black on Sundays, queer before Black on Pride Day.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Crystal Valentine, 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 Sabrina Benaim, Neil Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Blythe Baird, Desireé Dallagiacomo, & our newest release from Dave Harris!

Crystal Valentine & Aaliyah Jihad – “Hide Your Shea Butter” (250K Views!)

“It’s not just that you take what we create, it’s that it always gets
lost in translation.”

Congratulations to Crystal & Aaliyah on topping 250,000 views on this marvelous poem. Watch more from Crystal and Aaliyah 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, and Aaron Coleman!

Crystal Valentine – “And the News Reporter Says Jesus Is White” (250K Views!)

“How can you say Jesus was a white man when he died the blackest way possible? With his hands up, with his mother watching.”

Congratulations to Crystal on topping 250,000 views on this incredible poem. Check out more from Crystal 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!

Crystal Valentine & Aaliyah Jihad – “To Be Black and Woman and Alive” (500K Views!)

“To be woman and black is to be born knowing
your beauty does not belong to you.”

Congratulations to Crystal & Aaliyah on topping 500,000 views on this amazing poem. Check out another collaboration between the two poets 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!