Best of Button Week 75

“If I were another person, I think I’d still be mentally ill. It’s impossible to imagine a color you haven’t seen.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Neil Hilborn & Ashe Vernon. 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 JUST-RELEASED book from Hanif Abdurraqib!

Max Binder & Morgan Crist – “Real Boy/Real Girl” (CUPSI 2016)


Performing at CUPSI 2016.

“To be gendered is to answer every question before it is asked.”

Don’t miss this great poem from Max Binder & Morgan Crist, performing for Barnard during finals at the 2016 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational. Barnard placed 3rd overall in the tournament.
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.

Dave Harris – “Why We Dance”


Performing at CAMP Bar in Saint Paul.

“It has taken me so long to say that I am proud to be black, to say it like it means something.”

Don’t miss this excellent poem from Dave Harris, performing at the former Soap Boxing Poetry Slam, now Button Poetry Live.
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.

Jeremy Radin – “The Wolf Sex Poem”


Performing at Art Share LA.

“Your body is a sky I want to sing into forever and
my body is that trembling song.”

Don’t miss this hilarious, beautiful poem from Jeremy Radin, performing at Art Share LA.
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.

Writing Prompt #2

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Writing Prompt #2 (w/ Jesse Parent)

Hey Button fans! With the chapbook and video contests in full swing, we’re excited to feature another writing prompt to help you with your own writing. If you’re comfortable, please share what you write in response to the prompt in the comments below this post (and feel free to use it for either of your contest submissions!) You can check out responses to our previous prompt here.
Today’s prompt comes courtesy of Jesse Parent. For further inspiration, you can check out some of Jesse’s work on the Button channel here, here and here. The prompt is as follows:

Choose an object that has a lot of sentimental value to you and an object you bought in the last week (or most recently). Write a letter from the sentimental object to the object you just bought explaining who you are and how to take care of you. (Optional: leave a few lines at the end for the object you just bought to respond).

Again, feel free to share whatever you write in response to the prompt in the comments below this post (you can use an anonymous name if you’d prefer, and your email address won’t be public). We look forward to seeing your work!

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Jesse Parent is an award-winning slam poet who was the runner up at the 2010 and 2011 Individual World Poetry Slams, a finalist in the 2012 Ontario International Poetry Slam and 2014 Ill List Poetry Slam Invitational, and a semifinalist at the 2011 and 2012 National Poetry Slams. He is also a touring improv comedian, a veteran of over 40 improv festivals, and was named an Artistic Associate of the prestigious Chicago Improv Festival in 2006. His work has been featured on the Huffington Post, UpWorthy.com, Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze.com, and the television show Lexus Verses and Flow on the TV One network. You can find out more about Jesse at his web site, JesseParent.com.

Ariana Brown – “Curanderismo” (CUPSI 2016)


Performing at CUPSI 2016.

“If you are alive, you are descended from a people who refused to die.”

Don’t miss this powerful poem from Ariana Brown, performing for UT Austin at the 2016 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational.
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.

Best of Button Week 74


“My body is selfish. It knows only how to take and never gives.”

Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button playlist, featuring the top-viewed recent videos on the Button YouTube Channel. Today’s additions: Kate Hao and iCon. 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 JUST-RELEASED book from Hanif Abdurraqib!

Spencer Brownstein – “Double Vision” (Button Live)


Performing at Button Poetry Live.

“My eye was fixed, but I still see two of you.”

Don’t miss this great poem from Spencer Brownstein, performing at Button Poetry Live. If you’re in the Twin Cities, make sure to check out our next show!
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.

Ashe Vernon – “For Anyone Who’s Listening”


Performing at WOWPS 2016

“I have no problem with my body, just the things everyone else seems to assign to it.”

Don’t miss this excellent poem from Ashe Vernon, performing at the 2016 Women of the World Poetry Slam in Brooklyn, NY.
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.