Marcus Amaker

when i write my name with my left hand, i instantly find him there: 6-year-old me, looking back through a paper mirror of sloppy lines, & quirky, anxious-looking letters. there’s a 6-year-old person in our house, & she has already learned how to shape her name perfectly, how to hold a pencil steady, how to notice herself becoming herself. & when i watch her, i’m reminded of the kid inside of me, who was too nice to push people’s buttons, so he pushed the button of a thousand pens instead.

On May 4 at the Dock Street Theatre, Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera (HALO) presents Singers & Stanzas, a world premiere presentation bringing together the words of Lowcountry poets with the musical talents of nationally-known composers and performers. The event began as a collaboration between HALO and Marcus Amaker, Charleston's first Poet Laureate, as a way to "find the space for new work combining local artists with visiting talent," said Leah Edwards, HALO's co-founder.

In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book. Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Roxane Gay, and many others. Marcus Amaker’s poetry collection Hold What Makes You Whole blends imagery to musicality to profound results.