In these episodes Mark remarks about what he is doing, thinking, and feeling at the time.
Blog
Blog: “Poetic Justice”
People come and people go. People love me and then they leave me (or they say they love me). People think they know me, people have thought that they could take advantage of me. But do you know what has never left me? What has always inspired me? What has never lied to me? Poetry. I have written poetry on planes, on trains, on buses, in beds, in different countries - and though there are some poems I would never choose to write again, poems that I have written for people that I now regret - that is life. Poetry is my voice, Poetry is my escape, Poetry means more to me than I could put into words - and to be honest if I have written a poem for someone that means that that person meant something profound to me, but not everybody understands that about me or perhaps does not care. Things happen for a reason. I am not perfect - but no one is. Choices are made, things are said - but life goes on. People can hurt us and move on from us - but if a poet like me has any magic to them and to their words, then we, I, can never be forgotten; people can try to forget us and make believe that we didn't have any effect on them, but in the end the truth never dies - because it is written into the poetry of life. I don't forget and I never will. Thank god I am a good person and an ok poet - because if I were to write about everything I have done and everyone I have met then who knows what poetic justice I could meet out. But, looking back, now I realise where I went wrong and who people whom I have met truly are. Time and experience is fascinating and inspiring! 😊
Mark The Poet – The Podcast: “Repetition is the key”
The Mark Hastings – Episode #5: “First Thoughts”
The Mark Hastings Experience – Season 3, Episode #4: “Life + Death”
Keep Calm and Keep Walking🚶♂️
Hi, everybody!
I just got back from an invigorating and inspiring walk through the beautiful countryside of my home village of Meriden, here in the United Kingdom – walking over green fields and following trails that I have walked many times over the years, so much so that I know every blade of grass and every leaf of every tree like the back of my hand.
I have always enjoyed walking and I always take great pleasure in the time that I am gifted to be able to do it. I have been inspired to write many poems about my home surroundings and the natural world environment that I have been blessed to enjoy all my life – and, as a result, all of my books are filled with poetry and inspiration inspired by something that I might have seen, heard, thought about, or felt while walking.
I would not be the writer I am today without walking. I would not have written all that I have written if I had not fallen in love with the gift and the magic that walking or just being in the great outdoors has given me.
During my walk this morning I passed by a fellow walker who greeted me and wished me a “good morning” – which compliment I immediately returned, of course; and just before he and I parted ways, my fellow rambler said: “What a beautiful morning to be alive, isn’t it?” And I could not have agreed with him more, because this morning felt like a true breath of fresh air that I and everybody needed.
So, wherever you are and whatever you are doing this weekend, from me to you, I just wanted to say that I hope you have a wonderful weekend – and, if you can, take a moment to enjoy the natural beauty of what surrounds you.
Keep calm and keep walking, my friends!🚶♂️
-Mark
My Poem “Always”
My heart goes out to everybody
who is having to adapt to doing things
and to living their life as best as they can
in a vastly different way than they had
previously known how to
since all of the restrictions put upon
their interactions, the way that they shop,
how they work, and how they learn
were introduced in order
to combat against an unseen
and an easily transmissible enemy
that has seemingly brought
the modern world to a stand still.
My heart goes out to parents,
because most of them have had
to adapt to becoming not only
their child’s guardian and around
the clock source of entertainment,
but they have also had to become
their child’s tutor and home school teacher –
and in most cases parents are struggling
to be all the things that their child
needs them to be all of the time,
while perhaps also simultaneously
having to juggle the responsibility
of being a supportive partner.
My heart goes out to the children
of this generation who want to learn
and who dream of becoming something
and someone with a calling
and a purpose in life to be fulfilled…
my heart goes out to those families
who are having to share their one
and only means of accessing the Internet
and those who are having to take it in turns
to seek out some kind of escapism
from the stark reality of world events
in any way that they can.
One thing that is undeniable
is that life is hard for people right now,
and the world, unfortunately,
seems more fragmented than ever;
however, whenever I see new art being created,
whenever I hear of new music being shared,
whenever I find out about new
innovations that are being made,
whenever I look beyond the shores
of my island home,
I am reminded of how resilient the human spirit is –
which is why I do not stop myself
from believing that with a little time,
patience, and perseverance
the human race will one day
collectively come out from
the shadow of this dark era
more resolute than ever,
stronger than ever,
consistently riding the waves of change,
because we have always been a species
who no matter what has always found a way.
My Poem “2020 Decision”
Everybody has a voice... everybody has a choice... everybody deserves the right to be able to put a line or an "X" in a box on a ballot paper for somebody who they have faith in to do what must be done to reinvigorate and re-establish the individual rights of a citizen... everybody can make a difference if they choose to show up, if they choose to make their mark, and if they choose to vote with their heart, with their mind, and if they choose to listen to what their intuition is telling them to do, when they need to make what could turn out to be a decisive and a historic decision.
Mark The Poet 