Jesse Parent – “The Parts of Her That Matter” (100K views!)

“When we had to tell our kids that my wife had cancer, my eldest son held it together, made it into math. My daughter shattered like a slipped and soapy plate, but my youngest, the eight-year-old, went silent as sleep, eyes wide and wet.”

Congratulations to Jesse Parent for topping 100,000 views on this beautiful poem! Watch more videos from Jesse 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!

Jesse Parent – “To the Boys Who May One Day Date My Daughter” (4M Views!)

“If you break her heart, I will hear it snap with the ear I pressed against her mother’s belly.”

Congratulations to Jesse Parent on topping 4,000,000 views on this remarkable poem! Watch more videos from Jesse 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 Donte Collins, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Neil Hilborn, and our newest release from Phil Kaye!

Jesse Parent – “The Parts of Her That Matter”


Performing at the 2018 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“When we had to tell our kids that my wife had cancer, my eldest son held it together, made it into math. My daughter shattered like a slipped and soapy plate, but my youngest, the eight-year-old, went silent as sleep, eyes wide and wet.”

Don’t miss this magnificent poem from Jesse Parent, performing at the 2018 Rustbelt Poetry Festival in Detroit, MI.

Want to be featured on Button? Check out our 2018 Video Contest, open now, August 1st – August 31st 2018!



While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Sabrina Benaim, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Jesse Parent – “White Jesus”


Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“Watch as they nail me to their family tree and wash me white.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Jesse Parent, 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.

Writing Prompt #2

Button semicolon logo Transparent (2)
Writing Prompt #2 (w/ Jesse Parent)

Hey Button fans! With the chapbook and video contests in full swing, we’re excited to feature another writing prompt to help you with your own writing. If you’re comfortable, please share what you write in response to the prompt in the comments below this post (and feel free to use it for either of your contest submissions!) You can check out responses to our previous prompt here.
Today’s prompt comes courtesy of Jesse Parent. For further inspiration, you can check out some of Jesse’s work on the Button channel here, here and here. The prompt is as follows:

Choose an object that has a lot of sentimental value to you and an object you bought in the last week (or most recently). Write a letter from the sentimental object to the object you just bought explaining who you are and how to take care of you. (Optional: leave a few lines at the end for the object you just bought to respond).

Again, feel free to share whatever you write in response to the prompt in the comments below this post (you can use an anonymous name if you’d prefer, and your email address won’t be public). We look forward to seeing your work!

Button semicolon logo Transparent (2)

Jesse Parent is an award-winning slam poet who was the runner up at the 2010 and 2011 Individual World Poetry Slams, a finalist in the 2012 Ontario International Poetry Slam and 2014 Ill List Poetry Slam Invitational, and a semifinalist at the 2011 and 2012 National Poetry Slams. He is also a touring improv comedian, a veteran of over 40 improv festivals, and was named an Artistic Associate of the prestigious Chicago Improv Festival in 2006. His work has been featured on the Huffington Post, UpWorthy.com, Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze.com, and the television show Lexus Verses and Flow on the TV One network. You can find out more about Jesse at his web site, JesseParent.com.