The Birth of All Things

Written by Marcus Amaker

Narrated by Marcus Amaker

Marcus Amaker is the first Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC. He's an accomplished musician and spoken word performer. The audio version of The Birth of All Things is an eclectic mix of new, original poems in Marcus' own voice.

“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 has brought into my world.”

— Andrea Gibson, world-renowned poet and author of Lord of the Butterflies (Button Poetry)

“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.”

— Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, author of Arrival (Northwestern University Press), and mother of Phife (A Tribe Called Quest)

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Free Verse, LLC
• Release date: Jun 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781734673739

Marcus Amaker

Marcus Amaker is a husband, a dad, a son, a music nerd, and a Star Wars obsessive. He served as the first Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC from 2016-2022. In 2021, he became an Academy of American Poets fellow. Hold What Makes You Whole is his tenth book. He's also a powerful performer, the award-winning graphic designer of a national roots music journal (No Depression), an electronic musician, an opera librettist, the creator of a poetry festival, a teaching artist, and an advocate for youth poets. His poetry has been recognized by The Washington Post, The Kennedy Center, American Poets Magazine, The Washington National Opera, The Portland Opera, Button Poetry, NPR, The Chicago Tribune, Edutopia, Town & Country, PBS Newshour, SC Public Radio, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, North Dakota Quarterly, Post and Courier, and more. 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 around 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. He also created a publishing company, Free Verse Press, to release poetry books from authors in his community. He lives in North Charleston with his wife, their daughter, and a cat named after Wu-Tang Clan.