The Birth of All Things

by Marcus Amaker

Overview

The Birth of All Things is an eclectic mix of poems from Marcus Amaker, the first Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC.

This personal collection delivers poems about a wide range of topics: Life as a new dad, racism in America, Björk, anxiety, Star Wars, masculinity, pandemics, black music, history, and more.

Amaker is an award-winning graphic designer, musician, and performance poet. The Birth of All Things is the sum of all of his talents.

The book features Amaker's handwritten poems, and an original illustration from Florida artist Nick Davis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781734673746
Publisher:	Free Verse, LLC
Publication date:	06/02/2020
Pages:	106
Sales rank:	1,109,657
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

Marcus Amaker was named Charleston, SC’s first Poet Laureate in 2016.

He’s also the award-winning graphic designer of a national music journal, an accomplished electronic musician, the creator of a poetry festival, and a mentor to hundreds of students.

His poetry was selected to be published alongside two national book award winners in an anthology of African American poetry, and has been featured by PBS Newshour, SC Public Radio, Huffington Post, A&E Network, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, North Dakota Quarterly, Post and Courier, Charleston Scene and several other publications.

In 2019, he won a Governor’s Arts award in South Carolina, and was named the artist-in-residence of the Gaillard Center, a world-renowned performance and education venue.

His poetry has been studied in classrooms across the country and has been interpreted for ballet, jazz, modern dance, opera and theater.

Marcus has recorded three albums with Grammy Award winning drummer and producer Quentin E. Baxter of Ranky Tanky.

Editorial Reviews

These poems beg to be read aloud, to feed us meditations on what it means to be human, to have empathy for our fellow humans, as well as all the beauty the poet has found as a new parent. In the end, Amaker calls us to hope, no matter how great our fears.

blurb - Andrew Clark

Marcus Amaker reinvents himself with every project. This may be his most transformative yet. Exploring themes of midlife, fatherhood, feminism, the ubiquitous construct of race, Amaker's coming-of-age in verse is complete. To be sure, The Birth of All Things is a rebirth for Charleston's first poet laureate.

blurb - Len Lawson

A text for living, The Birth of All Things is a joyous collection with the breath of Amaker's newborn daughter running through. Despite the current chaos of our times, these poems conjure a world filled with magic and music that centers us and keep us brave. A necessary collection: Organic, generous and life-giving.

blurb - Cheryl Boyce-Taylor

Once, in 2001, I heard a poet read a poem that turned to music in the air. Two decades later Marcus Amaker's gorgeous new book is that moment on repeat, with each turned page. A mixtape of presence, The Birth of All Things is a genuine, lyrical offering to our heart's expansion. To write in celebration while refusing to ignore grief, is a skill few artists have mastered, but it is mastered here. I am so grateful for the bonfire of light this book as brought into my world.

blurb - Andrea Gibson