Get your copy of the republished version of my book ‘TheRambler’ in hardback!
Originally published in 2020, ‘The Rambler’ is a poetry collection that signifies, describes, expresses, and attempts to explain, convey, and communicate my love of walking, as well as my love of nature, and my personal connection with the natural world.
A love of walking and of enjoying being outdoors has been a favourite passed time of mine and my family for generations, and the poems within my book ‘The Rambler’ are about why it is important to never take life, nature, people, and the planet we live upon for granted – because this world is the only one we have.
You can get your copy of the new hardcover version of ‘The Rambler’, featuring a new cover image of myself, from Amazon now!
A walk through the woods with me, as I return to the “Birthplace of The Poet” and I also remember and pay tribute to my late father who sadly died almost a year ago.
Beauty all around…
nature in full display…
the call of the wild…
as I stare at the blue sky,
the tall trees, the green fields,
I am once again inspired by everything
and by everyone who I meet
who have also chosen to take to the trail
and travel by using the strength
of their mind as well as their feet.
I feel like I know every blade of grass…
I feel like I recognise every leaf…
I feel like I have an emotional
connection to my path…
I never feel like I am walking alone –
because whenever and wherever I walk
I feel like I am walking alongside fellow
poets, artists, and philosophers
who have all shared at one time or another
a deep and a profound belief
that everything and everyone is inextricably linked.
There is more to what makes life
what it is than we could ever know…
there is more to the nature of the
universe
than anyone could ever accurately
conceive nor put into words…
there are things that we feel
deep inside of us that we do not show
until we are breathing in the fresh air
of nature, and who we are, who we were,
and who we will always be meet –
because there are times and there are places
when and where within our minds
we communicate with everything
and everyone around us in ways
that are engrained into our true nature,
like the rings of a tree –
which can be awakened at any time
that we choose to step outside and walk free.
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.
The snow fell slowly…
the snow fell deep…
the snow fell quietly…
the snow fell so peacefully
that while I was watching it
I drifted off to sleep.
In the morning, as I looked out
at the blue sky above
and at the white snow below,
I felt like I was a child
and I wanted to go outside
and walk in the snow –
and that is exactly what I did:
I put on my walking boots,
my coat, my scarf, and I threw
my rucksack on to my back
and I set out, one step at a time,
to explore the frozen beauty of nature
and the wonderful sights
that most of the time remain hid
before it was too late –
because even in nature things
are not always meant to last.
The sound of the snow cracking beneath
the soles of my boots was invigorating –
most likely because the sound of my own
footsteps was all that I could hear…
the way that the crystallised snow
sparkled and glistened as the sun
shined upon the pure white path
before me was dreamlike –
untouched, vast, like being within
a moment of time in which
there was no beginning and no end:
like staring at an eternal representation
of life and nature and feeling so moved
by this overwhelming and profound landscape;
and yet, even though I wanted to cry,
I was unable to conjure any tears –
I instead choose to close my eyes,
to breathe in and to breathe out,
to smile from ear to ear,
and to feel more blessed
that I had felt for years.
Mark The Poet 