Best of Button – Week 32

“Love arrives exactly when love is supposed to. And love leaves exactly when love must. When love arrives, say, Welcome, make yourself comfortable. If love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her. Turn off the music, listen to the quiet. Whisper, Thank you for stopping by.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist. Today’s additions: Porsha Olayiwola, Alexis Wolfe, Alex tha Great, RJ Walker, and Blythe Baird ! Congrats Poets!

Come back each week to see our newest and most popular videos.

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

RJ Walker – “Summer of Mania”

Performing at Rustbelt 2019.

“Mania is electric scissors. Summer is the only time that exists. So why even think of anything past it.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from RJ Walker, performing at the 2019 Rustbelt Poetry Festival in St. Louis, MO.

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, Brenna Twohy, & our newest release from Porsha Olayiwola!

Button Poetry made an app called Button TV! It’s like Netflix for poetry. You can listen to your favorite poets while using other apps!

Download the Button TV app where apps are got. Available for Apple iOS, Android, and Desktop!

Don’t miss out on our next submission period! The 2019 Chapbook Contest starts November 15th, 2019 and ends January 5th, 2020!

RJ Walker – “My Mother Explains My Depression to Me” (100k views!)

“She says, ‘See? Don’t you feel better?’ And she does not know that I tried to drown myself accidentally on purpose for the second time today.”

Congratulations to RJ Walker for topping 100,000 views on this heartrending poem! Watch more videos from RJ 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!

RJ Walker – “My Mother Explains My Depression to Me” (Button Live)


Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“She says, ‘See? Don’t you feel better?’ And she does not know that I tried to drown myself accidentally on purpose for the second time today.”

Don’t miss this remarkable poem from RJ Walker, performing at Button Poetry Live.

Send us your poetry! 2018 Chapbook Contest is NOW OPEN! Submit Here!

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

RJ Walker – “A Seance for the Boy I Let Die” (Button Live)


Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“To be a medic is to be a campfire: a thing that holds ghost stories. And I cannot speak yours without smoke in my throat.”

Don’t miss this miraculous poem from RJ Walker, performing at Button Poetry Live.

While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, Hanif Abdurraqib, Donte Collins, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Rachel Wiley, & our newest release from Neil Hilborn!

Best of Button Week 139

“If I got paid for all my emotional labor, I’d hire an unassuming, relatively attractive white man to follow me around so every time you don’t believe me, he can just repeat what I said so then, like, you do believe me.”




Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Melissa Lozada-Oliva, RJ Walker, and Ry Irene. 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, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, and our newest release from William Evans.

RJ Walker – “Halloween”


Performing at Great Plains 2016.
“I was originally planning on coming as my depression for halloween, but the costume was so big and heavy that I could not leave my house.”
Don’t miss this marvelous poem from RJ Walker, performing at the 2016 Great Plains Poetry Pile-Up in Lincoln, NE.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Neil Hilborn, Mahogany L. Browne, Olivia Gatwood, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jacqui Germain, Aaron Coleman, Donte Collins, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, our newest release from William Evans & more.

RJ Walker – “Grandpa Millenial”

Performing at the Great Plains Poetry Pile-Up

“The desire to die can be an addicting drug, but the will to live can be a euphoric struggle.”

Don’t miss this incredible poem from RJ Walker, performing at the Great Plains Poetry Pile-Up in Lincoln, NE. Support Button on Patreon so we can continue to broadcast these amazing poets!

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 & more.

Best of Button Week 95

“The only difference between you and me, is I’m just
a small part of what you are.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: RJ Walker & Erica Hoops!
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 Aaron Coleman!

RJ Walker – “Said the Confederate Flag to the American Flag”

Performing at Great Plains 2016.

“It’s amazing what people will do with a piece of cloth when you wipe up enough blood with it.”

Don’t miss this amazing poem from RJ Walker, performing at the 2016 Great Plains Poetry Pile-Up in Lincoln, NE. Support Button on Patreon so we can continue to broadcast these amazing poets!
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.