life

My Poem ‘The Fighter’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s important to fight…
it’s important to never give up…
it’s important to open your eyes
and look towards the light…
it’s important to never forget
who and what has made you…
and, above all-else,
it is important to always have
something and someone within your mind
and in your heart that you love.

You may feel like you have reached
the end of the road…
you may feel like you have arrived
at the end of the world…
you may believe that there is
no longer anything more to be said or wrote –
and then a new day will begin,
the sun rises again,
and you can go from being lost for words
to overflowing with emotion…
and over time the hurt that you feel
from a painful experience that you have been through
you can learn to use as a form of protection
and defense… like a sword.

To surrender, to submit, to sit down motionless
and quiet can seem like the easiest thing to do…
to not make a fuss, to not fight back,
to not stand up from what you believe in,
because you know that your opinion
might be in the minority
can sometimes seem like the best way
most of the time to keep the peace –
however if everybody did that,
if everybody just took everything for granted
and they did not open their eyes fully
and truly saw all the people
and everything that is necessary
and important to know about our planet,
then none of us would ever truly
know ourselves… and we would give up
before we discover why we are all here on Earth,
and where we are supposed to be,
and what we are supposed to do.

In the wild… in the world of the wolverines,
the wolf, the natural predators of the animal-kingdom
of planet Earth that live in the woods,
in the forests, in the air, in the oceans,
in the deserts, in the places where
only the strongest is made, meant, able,
and accustomed to live and survive –
that is where the fittest, the biggest, the toughest,
walk, run, swim, feed, kill or be killed,
and who as a species have learned
over countless generations
that to be a true survivor
in this sometimes wild world
you have to be a fighter.

My novelette ‘The Man In Black’ is out now!

Mark Hastings books, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Click the link above and get your copy of my new ebook for Amazon Kindle!

“I began writing this short-story in the summer of 2016, following the untimely death of one of our greatest and most gifted artists, icons, musicians, and inspirations, David Bowie – who died on the 10th of January, 2016. After he died I was so shocked to hear of his passing, and like most people I sort-out his music and I listened to everything he had ever made and created – and I also saw countless artists and musicians paying their own personal and heart-felt tributes to “David Bowie” in any way that they could: through music, through art – and I too wanted to contribute something. I wrote a poem dedicated and in honour of David Bowie after he died, called “Always the Starman“, and I shared it for other people to read. However, I was itching to write a new poem or a new short-story that spoke about things that I wanted to say… and that was when the initial idea for my story “The Man in Black” came to life and I began writing it. “David Bowie” walked into this story all by himself, just like the “Man in Black” does, and he naturally made himself at home in it – and in my story he will always be. Throughout my writing of my short-story I listened to David Bowie’s music continuously, and I hope that I have captured a part of his spirit. This is not a story about “David Bowie” per se, but it is a story inspired by him. I hope you enjoy it!” -Mark

My Poem ‘Where did you come from? I wasn’t expecting you?’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Within the blink of an eye,
within the flash of a burst of sunlight,
within an instant of time,
within a single simple impression
that touches you
when you see something
or someone at first-sight…
have you ever considered
what that moment is made up of
and where it comes from?
Have you ever thought about
what all the world
and all life is built upon?

There is always a before,
and there is always an after…
there is always energy,
and there is always matter…
there are always things
that you can’t understand
until you go through them…
there are always realities
that you can’t imagine
until you see them…
the most undeniable thing about life
is that you can never know everything
about it, about everyone who makes it,
about the depths and the secrets
of the universe beyond the sky
and our galaxy’s periphery outer-limit –
because every sphere has its own world…
every place has its own laws of nature…
every planet, every region of space,
has its own history, creation, story,
leaps in evolution, and future.

There is a reason for everything…
there is a reason we are all here…
there is a reason why nothing
can suddenly turn into something…
there is a reason for hope…
there is a reason for fear…
there is a reason for why
there are things that we need to know,
and there is a reason and a meaning
behind what makes us smile
and what brings us to tears.

Some things in life we hope for,
we plan for, we expect,
and we need to happen
to give our life the drive
and the spark to fill the world
with all that we were born to give…
sometimes when you are not expecting
to find paradise or perfection
you can stumble upon an oasis
or someone who to you is the most beautiful…
some things are so precious and meaningful,
and in every way they must be held
close to your heart as a gift…
sometimes life can become so simple,
especially when you look up
and you see something new
and you say to yourself loud and clear:
where did you come from?
I wasn’t expecting you?

My Poem ‘Cosmos’

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There are some absolutely
breathtaking sights…
the vivid, spectral,
ethereal, green, dancing
magnetic field of our planet
that comes alive and creates
the mesmerizing Aurora
of the Northern Lights
above the sea and the mountains
that touch an arctic sky…
there are some incredible
and stunning places that perfectly
exemplify how truly beautiful
the natural world is…
there are some unbelievably
heavenly spaces, and some
other-worldly lands
that still have yet to be
trekked upon by the foot of a human being –
places that encapsulate the meaning
of the word “wild”…
there are some amazing landmarks
of every country, continent, and island,
where people are drawn to
and they would sacrifice anything
to breathe in its air
and take in everything that makes
such a place so special and enthralling…
there are some things that need to be seen
to be believed that they actually exist.

There are places that need to be seen
in the right light so as to truly witness
their magic – at night, when the sky is dark
and the stars burn bright from so far away
all that can be seen from here on Earth
is a shimmering white…
there are songs sung and music to be heard
when we look up and a celestial voice
speaks to us and unlocks
the doors of our imagination…
there are other worlds out there
in the universe teaming with life
of unimaginable forms that dream
dreams of us at night…
there are things that are being born
every second, everywhere,
that are experiencing what it means
to be alive wherever they find themselves,
and they are discovering for the first time
the wonders that flicker in a person’s heart
and eventually become love.

There are moments when knowledge, intellect,
and words just become redundant
when compared to what we see before us…
there are feelings that overwhelm comprehension
and go beyond our instincts that we trust…
there are miracles and wishes
traveling at the speed of thought
to come and answer the calls
of those who feel lost…
there are galactic travelers
voyaging between the stars
that will one day enter our orbit
and who will reveal to us
things that we have never believed possible
but which are ubiquitous
all throughout the cosmos.

My Poem ‘The Meaning’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As with most things
it all begins in our eyes
and with what and whom
we see with our eyes…
as with most things
we all come to things,
places, people,
from different directions
and at different times…
as with most things
there are always things
that we regret…
as with most things
a part of something
always remains within
the heart and the soul of something
even after the outer-layers
have withered away and died.

Humanity is fragile…
every day of a person’s life
they are in a constant state of change;
humanity by nature is fallible…
every day of their life
a person can do things
that when looked upon in retrospect
they would see them as a collage of mistakes;
everybody is prone to repetition
and we value our routines;
we are all so caught up in our own lives sometimes
that we are mostly oblivious
to the changing of the times
and the rhythms of life.

A life is full of meaning,
even if you can’t see it:
music, children, love, sport, art,
work can give a person’s life what they need…
no two people live the same life in the same way…
no one and nothing ever stops changing…
what matters the most in life
is what you find in the moments of silence
when there is no sound, music, or talking –
there and then is where you find
what lies within your heart
and what you cannot live without
because of the way that it fills
your life with such meaning.

My Poem ‘A Good Day To Write’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today is beautiful…
the weather could not be better…
today has an energy and a feeling
that feels magical and wonderful…
the sky is blue
and there isn’t even one cloud above,
and with every breath that I take
I can sense that there is something special
and inspirational in the air…
I don’t know what it is,
but I have a felt like this before –
to me, to the writer in me,
it is like catnip and all I want is more…
like an intoxicating perfume…
like a dog with a squeaky-toy…
like a wolf howling at the moon…
like that memory of racing down a hill
on my go-kart when I was a boy…
heart-racing, inspiring,
invigorating, breath-taking, exciting –
like the thrill that some people get
from adrenaline-filled activities
like driving-fast, or cliff-diving?
From start to finish, from beginning to end:
an artists dream, a writer’s wish…
like seeing a sun rising or setting…
like the abundance of life and nature
of a forest that gets inside you…
like a day spent in a countryside of green-fields…
like a day spent reading a book under a tree…
like a day spent with your girl-friend,
your wife, your soul-mate,
just enjoying every moment of love
and being together…
today… today is one of those days:
a good day to walk… a good day to smile…
a good day to love… a good day to read…
a good day to open your eyes,
to open your ears, to open your heart…
and if you are a writer like me,
today is definitely a good day to write.

My Poem ‘Every way as you are’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I love you, my beautiful angel…
I love you, my perfect princess…
I love you, my dream come true,
with all my heart and all my soul…
I love you now and forever…
and I will love you more and more
every day of our life together…
because you are a part of me,
because you make me so happy,
and because the love I feel for you
is endless, limitless,
and it will only become stronger…
because from the moment
that you came into my eyes
I was eternally blessed
by the love of the most
beautiful woman in the world
who I would do anything for
and who inspires me –
my heart, my soul, my mind,
my body, beyond words.

There is no one else on Earth like you –
your eyes, your smile, the way you talk,
the way you laugh, the way you sigh,
the way that you blink your eyes,
takes my breath away and captivates me
and makes my heart beat fast…
you make me want to reach out
and kiss you, just so that I can show you
how you make me feel and what you do to me.

I see, I know, I feel…
I have always seen,
I will always know,
I will always feel
with all my heart
how beautiful, precious,
and gorgeous you are…
I will always be the one
who will tell you how truly amazing
and incredible you are
and how you will always be to me –
even if you cannot see for yourself
how you truly are…
since the day that I met you
and I fell in love with you,
to me it has felt like
I have caught a falling star…
I will never stop loving you for a second,
and how happy I feel every day
knowing that you want to be with me
is truly indescribable…
because every day with you
is like a miracle of god –
because from now until the end of time
there will never be anyone as beautiful
in every way as you are, Melissa.

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My Poem ‘The Day of Love’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When we fall in love
we are no longer in control
of our mind, our body,
our soul, our heart…
when we fall in love
we are literally falling
into an unknown world…
when we fall in love
we find ourselves at the start
of a journey of discovery
without a discernible path…
when we fall in love
we sometimes do things
that we have never done before
and we act on instincts and emotions
that transcend words.

Valentines day is the day of love,
but you can fall in love
and show love every hour
of every day of every week…
Valentines day is a day to be
grateful that you are loved
and that you have someone to love…
Valentines day is and always has been
a day that speaks to who I am
and what makes me happy.

Love is the most important
emotion in the universe…
love is what gives life its true meaning…
love is a blessing and should never
be thought of as a curse…
love is what keeps a heart beating
and it is what makes life worth living.

Without love in our lives
the world is a much darker place…
without love in our lives
we cannot see the beauty
that is right there besides us…
without love in our lives
we cannot wear the expression
of true joy and contentment on our face…
without love in our lives
we would not be able to see
that we all have a little piece of heaven
right here with us on Earth.

Today is the day to open your heart
and to let the best of you out
so that it may be seen and felt
by those who every day
matter the most to you above all else…
especially today, on this day like no other…
Valentines day, the day of love.

My Poem ‘All Kinds’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s nice to find a place
where you feel accepted…
it’s nice to find somewhere
to connect to and to feel connected…
it’s nice to find a place
where you can do anything,
say almost anything,
wear anything without fear
of being judged or isolated…
it’s nice to find somewhere
you can sit down, talk,
listen, work, write, share,
and perhaps even discover
and explore something unexpected.

So many different kinds of people
are drawn and find themselves
in the same place at the same time…
so many people from all walks of life
seemingly-randomly find themselves
interacting with other people every day
who serve as lamp-posts, signposts,
and talismans illuminating the path
that they must follow next…
so many different followers
of so many different ideologies,
customs, beliefs, tastes, and accents
can for a short period find themselves
walking or standing behind one-another
in the same line…
so many different ranges of ages
can find themselves within touching-distance
of those who are at ease with those
who are preoccupied by something on their mind –
and also by those who seemingly are
in their own infinite world of one and many,
but who are also at their best.

There is a reason why some flowers
and some plants need to be planted
in the right soil and in the right Earth
for them to grow and in the way
that they are meant to…
there is a reason why certain places
appeal to some people and not all –
sometimes the place where you want to be
can be somewhere that puts you
in the right place you want to be emotionally,
spiritually, psychologically,
within your own body and mind…
there is a reason why you go to things
and why things come to you…
there is a reason why when daylight
passes through a prism
it scatters into its spectral-components…
humanity, like light, is invisible when seen as-one –
however, when you look closer and deeper
you realize that for the world to be
the way that it is and the way that
it is supposed to be
it takes all kinds.

My Poem ‘School Friends’

Mark Hastings Poetry , , , , , , , , , , ,

Throughout the years
that we spend in attendance at school,
we have certain friends
with whom we hang-out
and sit down to have our lunch with –
however, when we fast-forward
to the present day and to the life
that we are now live,
how many of those same people,
those same friends,
do we all still know,
still talk to, or ever sit down
to have a meal with?
If I were to make a wild-guess,
based on my own experience,
then I would say not one,
or very few at-all-
which, to me, is a sad thing to think about
when you think back and your remember
some of the enjoyable and the fun times
that you might have shared
with your best school-friends.

It is natural for people
who once spent a great deal
of their time together
to slowly drift-apart
and become distant with one-another,
sometimes in every sense of the word…
life, like time, like a river,
runs in one direction –
the choices that we make
can see us doing things
that when we were children
we would have only thought of as
things that were beyond our wildest-dreams:
diving with sharks deep below the waves of the sea…
having adventures in rain-forests…
seeing the spectacular Northern-Lights…
or, perhaps, packing-up all your belongings
and making a new home on the other-side of the world?

We all grow up with people…
we all meet people over the course of our lives…
we all think that when we are a child
that the fun times will never come to an end…
we all had good days and bad days
when we were at school…
we all have memories from when we were kids
of memorable mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights –
but, unfortunately, sometimes we all have to grow up,
grow from within, and we all have to make a leap
into an unknown world –
however, even though we all must move on in life,
find new things, and meet new people,
that does not mean that we should ever
have to forget who we went to school with…
who, no matter where they are now,
we will always remember them
as being our one of a kind
school friends.