Episode #19: “The Matrix Resurrections” (2021 film) – trailer reaction

In this episode Mark gives his reaction to the first trailer for the highly anticipated upcoming film and fourth installment in “The Matrix” film series: “The Matrix Resurrections”. And Mark talks about what “The Matrix” films mean to him and how they have influenced him.

Episode #18: “The Mark The Poet Experience” – Recent Poetry

In this episode Mark recites four of his most recent poems: “Same Language”, “Why?”, “The Runners and Riders”, “Hello/Goodbye”, and gives some personal insights into the inspiration for them.

Episode #17: “Happy Star Trek Day!”

In this episode Mark wishes a very happy birthday to his favourite television series and film franchise: ‘Star Trek’, created by Gene Roddenberry, which premiered on the U.S. television station NBC on September 8, 1966, which has boldly grown to become a cultural phenomenon all around the world. Mark talks about what “Star Trek” means to him and what it is about the franchise that has kept him a fan of it since he was a child. And Mark also recites his poem “Beam me up!”. Live Long and Prosper! 🖖

Episode #16: “Spider-Man” (2002 film)

In this episode Mark talks about one of his favourite films: the 2002 American superhero film “Spider-man” directed by Sam Raimi, starring Tobey Maguire as Spider-man/Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, James Franco as Harry Osborn, Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin/Norman Osborn, Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben, and Rosemary Harris as Aunt May.

Episode #15: “A Quiet Place, Part II” (2021 Film)

In this episode Mark talks about one of his favourite films: the 2021 American horror film “A Quiet Place, Part II”, the sequel to the 2018 film “A Quiet Place”. The was written, produced, and directed by John Krasinski, who also appears in a flashback scene. The story continues to follow the Abbott as they attempt to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by extraterrestrial creatures who a naturally blind but who have an acute sense of hearing. The film once again stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe, and sees Cillian Murphy join the cast as a fellow survivor who assists the Abbott family in their time of need.

My Poem “Hello/Goodbye”

During the chapters of our life
we encounter unforgettable characters
who influence us in many different ways -
and, just as in a book, some chapters,
some encounters, and some experiences may be brief;
however, sometimes, some indellible impressions
never end and never stop being
like a breath of fresh air
through the sometimes cluttered
interior of our brain.

"I'll see you again", "I'll see you on the other side",
"I'll see you before you see me" -
life does not always conform to how
we might want it to play out:
sometimes people move on,
sometimes people lose touch,
sometimes two becomes one,
sometimes you can have too much
and sometimes you cannot have enough;
however, no matter the struggle,
no matter the pain, no matter the scars
that people sometimes have to sustain,
if you are lucky, one day, a reason
for what you went through will
reveal itself and give you an answer
that may reveal something about yourself
that will be just as revelatory
as the truth that all life is a cycle
and everything on Earth
has a connection to everything
within the blue or the black sky
that we sometimes see above.

You never know what you are going to do,
you never know who you are going to meet,
you never know what or who
will become important to you -
because no one can ever know
the outcome of anything
until they choose to try...
you never know if you will ever
do something again,
you never know if you will ever
see someone again -
but sometimes something
can last a long time, perhaps a lifetime,
before the curtains are drawn,
before we reach for our jacket,
before we walk through a door
to the world beyond our periphery
where and when we will say
a simultaneous hello and goodbye.



Episode #14: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021 film) – storyline speculation *spoilers*

In this episode Mark talks about the first teaser trailer released for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film “Spider-man: No Way Home” starring Tom Holland as Spider-man/Peter Parker and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange and Mark speculates about what the storyline of the film might be, based upon the storylines from Marvel Comics.

Episode #13: “Parks and Recreation” (TV series) – Season 1, review

In this episode Mark does a review of the first season of the American political satire mockumentary sitcom television series “Parks and Recreation” and he talks about the actors, the characters, and the things about the series that he loves.

My Poem “The Runners and Riders”

Every weekend
within the village where I live,
there is a convergence, a meeting,
a gathering of runners and riders
who, for some reason, feel drawn
to my home’s crossroads
of paths and directions…
every weekend
people of every walk of life
set out of their homes
and eventually find themselves
at the same place, at the same time,
marveling at the journey they took
to be where they are and sharing
within their conversations their
mutual appreciation of what
always makes their thoughts race
and their heart beat faster and faster.

I, myself, am a walker…
I, myself, like to stop
and literally smell the roses…
I, myself, am a daydreamer…
I, myself, like to be unbounded to idea
of exactly where I am actually going
and let fate take me where
and when it chooses.

I have been both a runner
and a rider in my time –
and I can still recall the exhilaration
that I used to feel every time
that I pushed my body to the limit
while I got to where I needed –
however, nowadays, I am more of a free spirit
who goes with the flow.


I have been someone
who has had near misses –
and if the universe had had other
plans for me then I would not
be talking to you now…
I do not know how to be any different
than who I have become as a result
of all my experiences and adventures
that I have had over my life –
every so often dancing with
the flames of fate’s fire –
which is why I always feel
a genuine kinship with all of life’s
many and varied runners and riders.

Episode #12: “Mission: Impossible 7” (2022 film) – Birmingham Bullring, UK, filming *Spoilers*

In this episode Mark recounts watching a scene being filmed from “Mission: Impossible 7”, which is due to be released in 2022, which was being filmed in the Birmingham Bullring/Grand Central train-station in Birmingham, UK. *Spoilers*