Camisha Jones – “Michelle Obama’s Easter Dress Speaks”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“The curve of her courage is always in season.”

Don’t miss this outstanding poem from Camisha Jones, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest. Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Lydia Havens – “Cusp”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“My mother has saved me multiple times, even if she doesn’t know it. I have saved myself multiple times, even if I don’t know it.”

Don’t miss this outstanding poem from Lydia Havens, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest. Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Sabrina Benaim – “Unrequited Love in 9 Parts”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“And isn’t that love? Not being able to see the explosion even though you are the one holding the bomb; and the bomb is also you.”

Don’t miss this excellent new poem from Sabrina Benaim, featuring at Button Poetry Live, January 2017. Pre-order your copy of Sabrina’s forthcoming book, Depression & Other Magic Tricks, out Fall 2017 with Button (first 250 will be signed)!

Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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 & more.

Best of Button Week 113

“Fuckboy tells me lipstick should only be reserved for special occasions; so now I wear it all the time.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Joseph Capehart & Blythe Baird. 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 Olivia Gatwood!

Aman Batra – “Here”

2016 Button Poetry Video Contest.

“There’s a reason why the Siri on an iPhone has a woman’s voice: she only speaks when spoken to.”

Don’t miss this fantastic poem from Aman Batra, featured contestant in the 2016 Button Poetry Video Contest. Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Keno Evol – “If We Make It To The Promise Land”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“We gonna need all y’all to organize and pop it off, see a police reach for anything gon calmly tell him knock it off.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Keno Evol, 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.

Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Aaron Coleman – “On Acquiescence”

Performing at his book release in Minneapolis.

“We laughed and talked shit when what we wanted to do was understand.”

Don’t miss this remarkable poem from Aaron Coleman, performing at his book release in Minneapolis. Check out Aaron’s incredible book, “St. Trigger”, Winner of the 2015 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest.

Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Patrick Roche – “21” (6 Million Views!)

“I come up with a theory that my father started drinking again because maybe he found out that I’m gay. Like if he could make everything else blurry maybe somehow I’d look straight.”

Congratulations to Patrick on topping SIX MILLION VIEWS on this incredible poem. Check out more from Patrick here and here.

Come see Patrick Roche perform in Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!




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, Olivia Gatwood, and Aaron Coleman!

T. Miller – “10 Things You Sound Like When You Say AllLivesMatter in Response to BlackLivesMatter”

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“I go into the hospital and change all the “Intensive Care Unit” signs to “Care Unit” signs, because every life in the hospital should be cared for just the same.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from T. Miller, performing at Button Poetry Live, March 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.

Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.

Chrysanthemum Tran – “On (Not) Forgiving My Mother”

Performing at the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam.

“I guess my body belongs nowhere, and there is no word for that.”

Don’t miss this amazing poem from Chrysanthemum Tran, performing during finals at the 2016 Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam in Columbus, Ohio.

Come to Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3 for the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival, hosted by Button Poetry! Tickets are now available!

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.