Book excerpt: "Masculinity doesn't have to be toxic, but some men choose to put poison on their tongue ..." 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, Bjork, 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 an original illustration from Florida artist Nick Davis.