Kwyn Townsend Riley – “PWI 10 Commandments”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“If I die in police custody, no I did not kill myself.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem by Kwyn Townsend Riley, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest. Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions run August 1st – September 15th!

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Olivia Gatwood, our newest release from Donte Collins & more.

Olivia Gatwood – “Fourth Week of Two-a-Days in July”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“got a fifteen-second water break ten minutes ago and now we’ve got six miles around the golf course that is supposed to be the color of money but around here, looks like horse food.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem by Olivia Gatwood, performing at Button Poetry Live. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul, or watch LIVE from our YouTube Channel.

Get your hands on a copy of Olivia Gatwood’s marvelous book New American Best Friend.

Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions are open NOW, August 1st – September 15th!

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, Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, our newest release from Donte Collins & more.

Jared Singer – “Just Take a Shower” (Button Live)

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“The hardest thing I ever did was take a shower.”

Don’t miss this tremendous poem by Jared Singer, featuring at the Button Poetry Live, July 2017. If you’re in the Twin Cities, don’t miss the next Button Poetry Live show, first Monday of every month in downtown Saint Paul, or watch LIVE from our YouTube Channel.

Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions are open NOW, August 1st – September 15th!

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, Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, our newest release from Donte Collins & more.

Amir Safi – “Ode to DJ Khaled”

Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“We never saw anyone who looked like us and didn’t try to hide where they were from.”

Don’t miss this sensational poem by Amir Safi, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival. Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions are open NOW, August 1st – September 15th!

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, Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, our newest release from Donte Collins & more.

Ephraim Nehemiah – “Waffle House”

Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“I don’t even blame you. I blame Christopher Columbus; for makin’ white people think they can just name things whatever they want.”

Don’t miss this tremendous poem by Ephraim Nehemiah, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival. Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions open NOW, August 1st – September 15th!

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, Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, our newest release from Donte Collins & more.

Paul Tran – “Dry Clean”

Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“Every war you start has its price, America, and my mother, she’s gonna make you pay.”

Don’t miss this tremendous poem by Paul Tran, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival. Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions open TODAY, August 1st!

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, Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, Olivia Gatwood, our newest release from Donte Collins & more.

Best of Button Week 124

“My mother now wears the world: Dresses herself with the tall grass, blushes her cheeks with red clay, she laughs and a forest fire awakens, she laughs and every mountain bows to her sharp thunder, she laughs and every cicada begins to sing.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Donte Collins, Chestina Craig, & Hieu Minh Nguyen.

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 new book from
Donte Collins!

Raych Jackson – “Period Rules”

Performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

“‘That time of the month’ has about double the amount of syllables as ‘period’.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem by Raych Jackson, performing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival. Want to have your video featured on Button Poetry? Video submissions open August 1st!

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, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Sam Sax, our newest release from Olivia Gatwood & more.

Bianca Phipps – “The Heartbreaker Poem” (500K Views!)

“Your father teaches you how to be the first one to walk away. Leave, before they realize you were not worth staying for.”

Congratulations to Bianca on topping 500,000 views on this wonderful poem. Watch more 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, and Aaron Coleman!

Best of Button Week 123

“I wish there was something of yours left that I could put my ear to, and hear the familiar of your voice stumbling for my name.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Omar Holmon, Ed Carlyon, & Talicha Johnson. 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 new book from
Donte Collins!