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Hold What Makes You Whole
Rest like the sun
Schedule some time
to stay out of sight
when too many people
praise warm energy …
PRAISE.
One of the most multitalented poets in the country, Amaker turns his eye and ear to the body in his new collection, Hold What Makes You Whole— P. Scott Cunningham (he/him), founder/director, O, Miami Poetry Festival
In 'Hold What Makes You Whole', Marcus Amaker harnesses the slick and psychic echoes that our living creates. Bless this book. — Geffrey Davis (he/him), author of “Night Angler” (BOA Editions)
"Hold What Makes You Whole is a gratifying meditative collection of poems accompanied by kaleidoscopic visual imagery that pulls you in, settles your mind, and makes way for one's own reflections." — Lisa Willis (she/her), executive director of Cave Canem Foundation
Marcus Amaker is a poet committed to living abundantly on this earth. These are big-hearted poems, rich with sound and story, enlivened by metaphor and magic. — Beth Ann Fennelly (she/her), poet laureate of Mississippi, 2016—21
For Marcus Amaker, “writing a poem is world building,” and the worlds he brings us in this glorious collage of text and image is one where “You are free / to find heaven /even if / you don’t believe / heaven exits,” This book is a gift for all of us. — Marjory Wentworth (she/her), poet laureate of South Carolina, 2003—21
THE BOOK.
Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker's (he/him) tenth book, Hold What Makes You Whole, is a pocket-sized full-color collection of new and selected works from an award-winning opera librettist, musician, and graphic designer.
Hold What Makes You Whole is a 200-page compilation of jazz, Blackness, self care, fatherhood, Star Wars, social justice, music, and memory. Along with the audiobook and e-book, the Hold project also features short films, two full-length albums, and an interactive website.
On the cover of the book is Amaker’s great-great aunt Ruth Robinson, a poet and community leader who published her first book at the age of 65. Robinson passed in 2020 when she was 94 years old.
“I feel happy to honor her this way, and it’s an honor to introduce you to her Spirit,” Amaker said.
MEET MARCUS.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, South Carolina, from 2016ó22. In 2021, he became an Academy of American Poets fellow.
His work has been recognized by The Washington Post, The Kennedy Center, American Poets Magazine, Chicago Opera Theater, The Portland Opera, Button Poetry, NPR, The Chicago Tribune, Edutopia, Town & Country, PBS NewsHour, South Carolina Public Radio, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, Post and Courier, and more.
Schedule some time
to stay out of sight
when too many people
praise warm energy …
PRAISE.
One of the most multitalented poets in the country, Amaker turns his eye and ear to the body in his new collection, Hold What Makes You Whole— P. Scott Cunningham (he/him), founder/director, O, Miami Poetry Festival
In 'Hold What Makes You Whole', Marcus Amaker harnesses the slick and psychic echoes that our living creates. Bless this book. — Geffrey Davis (he/him), author of “Night Angler” (BOA Editions)
"Hold What Makes You Whole is a gratifying meditative collection of poems accompanied by kaleidoscopic visual imagery that pulls you in, settles your mind, and makes way for one's own reflections." — Lisa Willis (she/her), executive director of Cave Canem Foundation
Marcus Amaker is a poet committed to living abundantly on this earth. These are big-hearted poems, rich with sound and story, enlivened by metaphor and magic. — Beth Ann Fennelly (she/her), poet laureate of Mississippi, 2016—21
For Marcus Amaker, “writing a poem is world building,” and the worlds he brings us in this glorious collage of text and image is one where “You are free / to find heaven /even if / you don’t believe / heaven exits,” This book is a gift for all of us. — Marjory Wentworth (she/her), poet laureate of South Carolina, 2003—21
THE BOOK.
Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker's (he/him) tenth book, Hold What Makes You Whole, is a pocket-sized full-color collection of new and selected works from an award-winning opera librettist, musician, and graphic designer.
Hold What Makes You Whole is a 200-page compilation of jazz, Blackness, self care, fatherhood, Star Wars, social justice, music, and memory. Along with the audiobook and e-book, the Hold project also features short films, two full-length albums, and an interactive website.
On the cover of the book is Amaker’s great-great aunt Ruth Robinson, a poet and community leader who published her first book at the age of 65. Robinson passed in 2020 when she was 94 years old.
“I feel happy to honor her this way, and it’s an honor to introduce you to her Spirit,” Amaker said.
MEET MARCUS.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, South Carolina, from 2016ó22. In 2021, he became an Academy of American Poets fellow.
His work has been recognized by The Washington Post, The Kennedy Center, American Poets Magazine, Chicago Opera Theater, The Portland Opera, Button Poetry, NPR, The Chicago Tribune, Edutopia, Town & Country, PBS NewsHour, South Carolina Public Radio, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, Post and Courier, and more.
- GenresPoetry
Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2023
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 3, 2023
Poems about experiences, politics, and life. Read it you will find something that touches your heart and provokes an "aha" moment.
March 1, 2024
"You are already the God that God intended." Wow, what a gorgeous, heartfelt collection of poetry. It reminded me of Ross Gay.
July 9, 2024
Beautiful….profound…..moving.
September 27, 2024
Truly magnificent poetry - one of those collections you force yourself to savor.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews