Poems
Thank you for being here. This is the digital space for my new and old poems. I was named Charleston, SC's first Poet Laureate in 2016. Buy my books from my official online store and check out some of my poetry videos. My 11th poetry book is we deserve a world without war.
brotherhood / after you left the hospital …
(from the tiny poems series) let’s have a flashback, to when our lives seemed carefree, when our world was simply a walk or a bike ride toward each weekend like unwritten stanzas in an endless poem, when there was nothing to write about except liquid summers and dried-up mornings, when my beard had no traces […]
the pulse (part 2)
(spoken word poem. part two of the pulse) Charleston, where church steeples and cranes look over us and multi-colored houses house live-in servants. where fast-rising hotels rise above slow-moving clouds that cast floods on the corner of America Street. where parades of one color get one day to celebrate then hide in the shadows of […]
Despite the loss of Prince, it’s been a great year. A new house, a strong marriage with the most intelligent woman in the world, the TEDx news, and … this. BUT WHAT’S NEXT? Well … I’m designing the national music magazine No Depression. No Depression has a rich history of in-depth stories about roots music. As a graphic designer in Charleston, […]
Eight tiny poems about Charleston
A.C.’s when the lights flash at 2a.m., every person in dimmed shadow becomes enlightened even though they are scrambling for another conversation with darkness and drama. John L. Dart Library the man at the pulpit says “I have faith that one day we will see her in the morning.” And I […]
First show as Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC
June 30, 2016
!!!!! Ironically, words aren’t coming to me right now. I’ll just share the good news with you …. Official press release is below. Also check out the story from the Post and Courier. For Release: June 22, 2016 AMAKER NAMED POET LAUREATE OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTON Charleston, S.C.—Mayor John Tecklenburg announced the appointment of Marcus […]
Videography for Distil Union
June 22, 2016
Here’s another example of the universe working its magic: two months ago, I was invited to a luncheon for the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. At that luncheon, CML showed one of the videos I did for them on a big projector. After the luncheon, I took a walk down King Street and ran into […]
Marjory and I, featured on PBS Newshour
June 18, 2016
More blessings came my way earlier this month, when PBS came into town to talk to Marjory Wentworth and I about the healing power of poetry and its impact on our community after the massacre at Mother Emanuel. The crew filmed me at Hampton Park, near the Demark Vessey Statue. I read two poems, “Black […]
The Prince tribute show
June 11, 2016
Words can’t express how FUNKAY the Prince tribute show was, at the Charleston Music Hall. Man. The Hall was sold out! I’ve never seen a crowd like that before: an extra diverse group of purple power was in the building. And everyone was dancing. The band ripped through the setlist. Here’s what we played ::: […]
Life as a DJ
June 10, 2016
Thanks to Pam of the Soul Preservation Society, I’ve been able to do what I love the most: spin vinyl for people at parties and events. Yes, we spin vinyl. It would be so much easier to do it digitally, but we are old school. Plus, hauling around crates of vinyl around town is some […]
This Should Be a Podcast – Episode 50
June 3, 2016
The fine folks of This Should Be a Podcast – Andrew Sprague, Ryan Wilcox and Liz Segrist – interviewed me about art, poetry and my hatred of Seinfeld. I love this podcast – it’s super funny and relaxed. Check it out below, and also check out my wife on an earlier episode, as well! My podcast […]
War & Drink Podcast with Matt Megrue
May 24, 2016
Good friend and fellow musician Matt Megrue has a great new podcast called War & Drink. I was a guest of the first episode. Good times, man. Listen below and check out the other podcasts here.
