Best of Button Week 365

“Hold me down long enough and I’ll figure out how to turn these chains into a crown.”

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

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Ollie Schminkey, Andrea Gibson, Natasha T. Miller, Porsha Olayiwola, L.E. Bowman, Dave Harris, Rachel Wiley, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Ollie Schminkey – “A Hand Becomes”

Performed at the Button studio

“My dad doesn’t have a grave except the one inside my lungs. I visit the cemetery anyway.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Ollie Schminkey, performed at the Button studio.

Get Ollie’s stunning book, Dead Dad Jokes.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Neil Hilborn, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Bitaniya Giday & Raya Tuffaha – “Wheel of Fortune”

2021 Button Poetry Video Contest

“What empty stomach will ask for food, for aid, for help, and instead receive a bomb, grain as gunpowder, medicine as poison? America gives no gifts.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Bitaniya Giday & Raya Tuffaha, Runners-Up from the 2021 Button Poetry Video Contest!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Rachel Wiley, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Andrea Gibson – “Homesick: a Plea for Our Planet”

Performing in Longmont, CO

“We need so much less than we take. We owe so much more than we give.”

Don’t miss this spectacular poem from Andrea Gibson, performing in Longmont, CO.

Get Andrea’s phenomenal book, You Better Be Lightning.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Neil Hilborn, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Andrea Gibson, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Brenna Twohy – “I am Not Clinically Crazy Anymore // When the Crazy Came Back” (100K Views!)

“This body knows fear, like a front porch knows welcome. It is always coming home.”

Congratulations to Brenna Twohy for topping 100,000 views on this powerful poem! Watch more from Brenna here and here.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Andrea Gibson, Phil Kaye, Ebony Stewart, Omar Holmon, Blythe Baird, Rachel Wiley, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Lanise Prater – “This is a Response to My White Friends Inviting me on Vacation”

Performing at Park Square Theatre

“How are you trying to convince me you’re my safe space when you’ve only put me in unsafe spaces?”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Lanise Prater, 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, Rachel Wiley, Javon Johnson, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Sierra DeMulder – “Roadtrip, 2008”

Performing at Icehouse

“We both thought we were pregnant. ‘What are the odds?’ We laughed, her feet on the dashboard, windows down, radio crying out for a lover, neither of us ready to be mothers yet.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Sierra DeMulder, performing at Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN.

Sierra’s fantastic book, We Slept Here is now available!

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Rudy Francisco, Ebony Stewart, Dave Harris, Porsha Olayiwola, Blythe Baird, Rachel Wiley, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Sara Lessmann – “A Death in the Family”

Performing at WoWPS 2020

“There are pieces of life worth living, and that we see people and things not as they are but proof for the truth we believe even though it’s a lie we allow.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Sara Lessmann, performing at WoWPS 2020 in Dallas, TX.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Rachel Wiley, Javon Johnson, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Best of Button Week 364

“Tales from a Black woman working in higher ed…”

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

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Ollie Schminkey, Andrea Gibson, Natasha T. Miller, Porsha Olayiwola, L.E. Bowman, Javon Johnson, Kevin Kantor, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!

Chibbi – “Whose Right”

Performing at Main Street Players

“I see God in everybody, and usually I will take God home at the end of the night. He is always beautiful and we will find God together, and God damn it they cannot tell us that we are wrong, but they are still telling us that we are not right.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from Chibbi, performing at Main Street Players in Hialeah, FL.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Sabrina Benaim, Rachel Wiley, Javon Johnson, Blythe Baird, Raych Jackson, and our newest release from Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre!