“I don’t know how to explain that I am not in denial.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Rachel Wiley & Will Giles. 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 Aaron Coleman!


Performing at Button Poetry Live.
“The boy does not ask if he can choke me, so i pretend to die while he’s doing it.”
Don’t miss this new poem from Olivia Gatwood, performing at Button Poetry Live. Get your copy of Olivia’s book, New American Best Friend, here.

“My self-esteem is a helium balloon that’s been in the hospital room of my dying convictions for just a little too long.”



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

“If you ask me if I am fluent in Spanish, I will tell you that my Spanish is an itchy phantom limb; it is reaching for words and only finding air.”

Congratulations to Melissa on topping 100,000 views on this powerful poem. Check out more from Melissa here and here, and keep an eye out for her forthcoming book from Button Poetry!



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, and Aaron Coleman!

Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“What is art to an empty belly? What is a poem to a power outage? What is a prayer to a flood?”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Will Giles, performing at Button Poetry Live, September 2016. 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.

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.

“He say he tired of not being the hero in my poems,
I say me too.”



Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Ebony Stewart & Duncan Slagle. 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 Aaron Coleman!