Sit… Just sit…
Sit and listen to the sounds all around you…
What do you hear? What do I hear?
I hear the sound of train wheels,
against the backdrop of the sound of birdsong,
and then nothing, or almost “nothing” -
because I believe that there is
no such thing as “nothing”;
because there is always something happening
in this world and on every world,
even though from a distance
it might not seem that way.
First thing in the morning
has its own soundtrack
that is more serene, subtle, and subdued
in comparison to the rest of the day…
first thing in the morning
people and the world’s wildlife
are just waking up and undertaking
their daily routines and rituals
that will hopefully keep them
in good stead when it comes
to doing what they have to do,
and perhaps where they have to be…
first thing in the morning
there in an ambience of calmness
and a sense of peace -
however, before long, new sounds
make themselves be heard
and fill the air with noises
and voices that cannot be easily muted,
and what follows can be like
a sonic wave that overwhelms
everything and everyone else -
especially within a city.
There is nothing better than
sitting on a park bench,
as the afternoon sun shines down upon you,
and as the breeze rises ever so slightly
and gives you and your skin a gentle caress…
there is nothing better than
sitting on a beach, on a towel,
or perhaps while walking through
the crashing waves of a ocean,
and instantly feeling and understanding
the nature of the world
and all of our connections to it -
whether we realise the actual depths
that our integral bond reaches.
At sunset - and especially just after sunset -
when the sun is on the verge of fully descending
below the horizon and darkness rises,
that is when the sights and sounds of twilight
echo all around and make up us all feel
as if we are connected to something otherworldly,
but familiar at the same time:
the end, the beginning, the universe, life itself…
after nightfall, as the sound of cicadas can be heard,
as the hunters of the dark undertake
their nightly moonlit pursuit of their prey,
and as young and old dream of being able
to accomplish their hearts desires,
the stars of the cosmic sky above shine silently -
and yet, there is more to be found
and there is more to be heard
and discovered than could ever be imagined,
expected, nor explained;
and this is why it is important
to sometimes take the precious time
that is gifted to you and make the most of it,
when you are given the golden opportunity
to sit down and take a seat.
Poetry
My Poem “Soldier On”
Life is full of surprises…
the world is full of possibilities…
everybody can be happy one day
and then sad the next…
each of us all go through times
of grief and loss that make us
who will be going forward for the rest of our lives…
the best of us are often called upon
to pick ourselves up and asked
to commit ourselves to a cause
that is worth more than could possibly be known…
even those who may have never known
the hardships of those who have had
to fight their entire lives
sometimes have to become something
and someone who has to daily find the strength
to keep going and to keep doing what they
have been asked to do by a higher power
than themselves…
over time friends can become strangers,
allies can become adversaries,
and the relationships that we all share with some people
can become upended and never return
to how they once were -
because everything and everyone always changes…
pain and suffering can be the catalyst
responsible for transforming
an innocent into a soldier
who has to become a selfless survivor
on the battlefield of life that they envision before them -
while in private even the most fearless
and inspiring of leaders cry for their old life
and wish to return to a place and a time
when things were simpler
and they weren’t living every minute of their lives
as if they were in the middle of a war…
even the most beautiful of sunrises and sunsets
can give brief moments of peace, silence, and solace
to those who have little time to spare to enjoy the world
for how others still see and believe it to be;
however, time marches on,
the world continues to spin on its axis,
and the endless cycle of violence and chaos
does not stop spreading its shadow
across the landscape of the world -
and all any of us can do is keep to our word,
to stay true to the path in front of us, to keep doing our best,
to keep being all that we can be,
as we all soldier on.
My Poem “A Beacon of Light and Life”
As I walk through the shadows
and the streaks of sunlight
on a bright and beautiful Sunday morning,
as I listen to the sound of birdsong,
as I watch the ducks and the geese
awaken and then glide effortlessly
across the water of a nearby pond,
as the multiple white trails of jet planes
can be seen creating their own
patterns across the blue sky above,
I am once again reminded of how much
there is to be grateful for -
while I am also reminded of
what has been lost and who,
and what, will continue to stand
the test of time and nature.
As I look at the numerous green leaves of trees,
as I look at the intricacy of the petals of the flowers,
as I look at the blades of grass
as they move passively after
being touched by the tenderness
by the gentle breeze,
as I look across the rolling fields
and I see hay bales waiting to be collected,
I think back to simpler times
when I lived as if there was no tomorrow
and when I took the presence of people
in my life for granted without even knowing it.
As I see the poetry of life all around me,
as I glimpse moments of timelessness,
as I witness instances that make me
reflect upon the past, as well
as the world of the now,
I wonder about how far I have come
and how far I still have yet to travel,
and how my experience of life
is unique to me and to me alone -
but I also continue to feel as if,
though I am on a solo journey of discovery,
I have been, and I will always be, reminded
of the incredible connection that I have
always felt to this world of colour, beauty,
inspiration, stories, and change
that shines even amongst the other planets
of the heavens above, because to me it is
a haven of life and a beacon of light.
My Poem “Magic”
I have always been a fast writer…
I have always been a slow reader…
I have always been a fast typer…
I have always been a slow listener…
I have always been able to see, to hear,
to feel the sound and the rhythm of words
and be spellbound by their ability
to make sense of the world,
while being aware and fascinated
by the fact that each word
has their own story to tell of their origin…
I have always been curious about
how a word can come to mean
so much to so many -
even now, I am wondering:
What was the first word?
Who invented the first word?
When, where, and why
was the first word uttered?
What did the first word mean?
And, after it was first used,
was the first word used repeatedly
and to the extent that it was understood
and considered to be something
that someone generations in the future
would be wondering about?
I wonder - that is what I do…
I wander - that is also something that I do…
I watch, I wait, I weave silent tapestries
of poetry within my mind,
as the world races by…
I welcome the opportunity to be inspired
by whatever angel wishes to sit upon my shoulder
and whisper into my ears -
because I know how intense
and powerful an idea can be,
and I know what can be achieved
and where you can go
if you decide to make a move that you know
will influence the rest of your life.
In my time, I have met wizards…
in my life, I have met witches…
in my memories, I see things
that even now I am still trying to believe…
in my dreams is where and when
I face my fears, and every day I feel compelled
to bring people together
and to be a guide for others to follow -
just as the Messenger God, Hermes,
once instructed me to be one night
in a vision that I still remember so vividly…
in my heart I have always hoped for the best,
and I have always wanted the world to be
whatever those who work hard want it to be -
but my faith in some heroes and some role-models
renowned for their gift to touch humanity
with their artistic abilities
has on occasion been proven to have been misplaced,
and I have had to reexamine, reevaluate,
and revise my opinion on those
who have been exposed as devilish individuals…
I have always been known to be one who -
even when seemingly surrounded by uncertainty -
chooses to find a way out of wherever I find myself,
and I always start by choosing to never panic;
because I know that I always have a secret weapon
that will always keep me from
falling into a void of no return,
and there is no other word for what I know to be possible,
nor another way to describe what lies within me
and a select group of artistic individuals,
other than the ephemeral and overwhelming
sound and sensation that we have all felt
when we have witnessed something
that could only be captured, in a word,
to be nothing other than “magic”.
My Poem “The Power of Karma”
There was a time when I used to
worry about the future…
there was a time when I used to
worry about being alone…
there was a time when I used to
worry about being who and what
others wanted me to be…
there was a time when I used to
worry about those people who,
in retrospect, took me for granted
as well as tried to take me for a fool -
but, as times have changed,
as I have lived and I have learned,
I realise now that I am better off
without all those people who only wanted me
because they needed something, or someone,
for a short time, before they cast me aside
for something and someone “better” -
and to those people who left me
and to those whom I have left behind,
I say: thank you, as well as good riddance…
there was a time when I used to
worry that I wasn’t like everybody else I knew -
but now I know and I understand that
I am now who I was always meant to be,
and I never used to fit into
the puzzle of the other people I knew
because I am in a league of my own
and the architect of my own destiny…
there was a time when rising above
and touching the sky was just a dream that I had
and a wish that I wanted to one day achieve,
but now I have touched infinity so many times
and I know that the sky that we see is just the illusion
that we need to make us want to leap beyond
and into the unknown so that we can
begin to grasp our true potential
and our constant connection to something
that wants us to believe in ourselves
and what we can accomplish…
there was a time when I used to
worry that people would continue to
use my good nature against me -
but over the years I have become
more aware of my own self-worth
and I know that no matter what anyone
or anything tries to do to me
I will never give up, I will always fight back,
I will never forget, and I will always remember
the face of everyone I have ever met
and wish unto those who believe that they got away
with hurting me and not being held to account,
one day there will be a time when they will think of me
and regret what they did -
as well as realise that I was one of the best things
that ever happened to them -
while I will continue to believe in
and witness the power of karma.
My Poem “Every Story Ever Told”
Every story ever told,
published within every book
ever written about the life of someone,
there are always things that people want to know,
there are always things that people want to find,
there are always secrets that people want to uncover,
there are always questions that people want answers to;
however, not everything can be known about everyone -
and, as the saying goes:
“History is written by the victors”,
and of course “to the victor go the spoils”…
every story ever told isn’t always a true
and completely accurate portrayal
of what actually happened
where, when, why, how, and to whom…
every story ever told has had its share of reinterpretation -
which is normal, and especially when you are talking about
a story concerning a person, a place,
and a time a long time ago…
every story ever told has always been
a one sided narrative of certain events and people -
because once a story has been told,
and it is ultimately retold to others,
and perhaps even translated
into a completely different language,
when it is read or heard once again
something will always be left behind -
perhaps something fundamental in deciding
the true meaning of the story in question…
every story ever told originates
from a universal source of inspiration -
however just because the source of something
may be the same that does not mean that
the end result of something that comes
as a result of the same spark as something else
will always appear similar;
in fact, that is why the likelihood
of a multiverse of infinite possibilities
all existing and playing out in parallel to one another
is so intriguing and exciting
and may be proof of such a concept
that things can turn out differently
if different choices are made
by different versions of ourselves
when faced with the same situation…
every story ever told has a hidden meaning
and a hidden story within that will only
show itself after the same story is repeatedly enjoyed
and after a period of time in between -
because time, space, and our own individual
lives and experiences are always a factor
in how a particular story impacts upon us…
every story ever told -
from one set within a world of science-fiction
to one set in the past and involving
characters who live a life of privilege,
from a love story to one that is about
people trying to make a new life in a new world -
is all about relationships and about
the vastly different ways that people
are capable of treating one another,
as well as about how the actions of people
can affect the lives and the intentions
of those around them…
every story ever told is a testament
to humanities inner-most understanding
of the importance of sharing knowledge and information
to help in the development of our relationship
with one another as well as with nature
and the rest of the universe…
every story ever told are not all to be found
if you were to physically visit a library,
or if you were search on the internet,
because some stories have literally
been burned from history
and all that is left of them now
are fragments of what they were
and who and what they were about -
which is why I believe we should all strive
to do our best to preserve the memory
of everything and everyone for future generations
in every way that we can
so that the world of tomorrow will always know
what past versions of ourselves wanted
passed down to those who followed them
so that humanity would never forget
the messages of consciousness
encoded within every word
of every story ever told.
My Poem “Snuggles”
Some dogs are big, some dogs are small,
and the best dogs are those
who love unconditionally
and always come running
to the one they love
whenever they hear them call.
Having a dog is a blessing, a gift,
as well as a responsibility -
because having a dog is like having a child,
and when you look into the eyes of a dog
and when they look back at you
with a look of adoration
the feeling is noticeably mutual
and beautiful to behold.
Some people, some families, have many dogs
and when they give their dogs a name
their dogs learn quickly
that they are a part of a family
who loves them so much
that they gave them a name,
as well as a special place at the heart
of whomever their human family is -
and dogs love being a part of a family
because it feels so natural to them
to have a group of individuals around them
who all want the best for each other,
just like the packs of their wolf cousins.
Whenever you watch a dog grow
from being a puppy into becoming an adult,
sometimes you forget that for every human year
that passes a dog ages seven years -
and because you get used to having a dog around
and you naturally provide them with food, water,
and of course attention when they need it,
when your dog gets ill,
or when your dog sadly passes away,
the gravity of the loss that you feel
can be so unbearable that you feel
at a loss to describe the pain
of not having them around anymore.
It’s sometimes hard to put into words
how much a dog can mean to us,
and sometimes it is hard to tell someone
how much a particular dog has been such
a profound source of love and support to us
through good times and through bad times,
because a dog - especially a special dog
who used to come to you before others,
and a dog who used to lick you
like they were kissing the love of their life,
and a dog who used to sleep with you
because they wanted to protect you from harm -
can be what keeps you from succumbing to
what so many people in life have to contend with,
and of course only a dog can give the best of cuddles;
and, with all that I have said and more in mind,
I would like to dedicate this poem
to a special little black and white dog
who was one of the best dogs ever:
this poem is for “Snuggles”.
The Storyteller: Unmasked
“Unmasked” is a poem taken from Mark’s 2025 poetry collection ‘The Storyteller‘ – now available to purchase in hardback and as an ebook from Amazon.
My Poem “War of Words”
Even some of the longest
and the most devastating conflicts
that the people of our planet have known
have started with something seemingly
so small, so simple, and so subtle as a single word,
or a whisper in the ear of someone
whose voice and influence carries farther than others…
even some of the most seemingly innocent
and quiet people on Earth
are capable of inflicting a great deal of harm
and can create a great deal of damage –
because though they appear to be someone
who would not say anything to anybody,
behind closed doors some people
are not who and what they seem
and they take any opportunity to
talk about others and attempt to
ruin how people they don’t like are perceived…
even the closest of friends
can find themselves falling out with one another
because they believe that their relationship
has changed to such a drastic degree
that there is no going back to how things were
when things were good…
even some days that begin without
anything to grumble about
can slowly descend into a “day from hell” –
when everything seems to go wrong,
when no one can find mutual understanding,
nor common ground,
and when every interaction feels like a fight
that will only escalate and get out of hand
the more that time goes on…
even something that was originally intended
to be a joke can be twisted and turned
into something that is a far cry
from what it was supposed to be –
and as a result feelings can be expressed,
things can be said, choices can be made,
and what will happen next may not
be what was expected, nor wanted,
because it doesn’t take long for
“nothing” to become “something”,
nor does it take long for something that is said
to be taken out of context,
and it doesn’t take long before
there are the first of many exchanges shared
within a war of words.
Taken from my poetry collection ‘The Storyteller’ – out now: https://amzn.eu/d/fJUJ6Ss
My Poem “Word Search”
Certain words have always spoken to me
and resonated with me -
even before I knew what they meant
and what their definition was…
certain words have always seemed
to have this power to them
that has always intrigued me…
certain words have always had
this sound and this pattern in their pronunciation
that has always made me feel
like they are some sort of key to a door
that leads to somewhere within myself…
certain words have always reminded me
of certain things and certain people -
and in a way they have allowed me
to communicate with different versions of myself
in different versions of reality.
Words surround us everywhere we go…
even while walking through a jungle in Peru,
or while anywhere in the world
where you are within an oasis of nature,
those who are trained to notice
and to interpret the colours
and the language that is ever present
would be able to tell you so much
about what you should touch
and what you should steer clear of…
the imagery of our dreams also
has a dictionary and a lexicon
that can be decoded if you
actually remember what it was you saw
and what you did while you were asleep -
because our dreams can sometimes
disappear as if a gust of wind has blown them away
or as if they have melted away like
sunlight against snow…
nature itself has an underground network
which it uses to keep in touch
with the many varied forms of life that it embodies…
humans, animals, not to mention insects,
interpret what they see, or don’t see,
around them in very different ways -
and sometimes things are not exactly
as they appear to be upon closer inspection.
The more words that I have read,
the more words that I have heard,
the more words that I have learned,
the more words that I have used,
the more words that I have been
introduced to from the many varied languages
that are used everyday all around the world,
I have gained an appreciation for how
people are able to communicate with others
in multiple ways and for multiple reasons -
because the written word is one thing,
but the spoken word is another…
there has been poetry written,
there has been songs sung,
there has been music performed,
there has been art created by artists
that has a hidden and yet noticeable
underlying meaning that can only be
truly explained and understood
when they are uttered and performed
in the form that they originated…
translations and reinterpretations
have been common for generations -
however some words were never meant
to be repeated as commonly as others
and there is so much negativity attached to them
that saying them is considered a curse…
I don’t think there could ever be a limit
to how, when, where, nor why someone
will always wanted to express themselves
and leave their lyrical and literary mark -
which is good for someone like me
who lives to engage in a word search.
This poem can be found within the pages of my new poetry collection, “The Storyteller” - out now on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/fmYQv3F
