Purple Power

The New Age, Jazz, Blues, and Contemporary music of Kevin MacLeod combined with a dozen of Dave Harm's poems on cancer create a unique gift for the survivor and their family.  Spiritually uplifting.  An inspiration for anyone affected by cancer.

Listen to Harm read his poem Day One to the tune Aitech.  This is Dave Harm's favorite poem.  He wrote it shortly after his ex-wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It has the distinction of being the only poem ever shown on the front page of the Beatrice Daily-Sun newspaper and it also appears in his book Damaged Merchandise.  Or listen to him read his most popular poem Relay For Survivors to the song Shades of Spring.  This poem has been read throughout Southeast Nebraska at different Relay For Life events, as well as parts of Canada.  In 2006, it appeared in a fund-raising book in Clio, Michigan.

12 original songs along with 12 poems written and read by Dave Harm, as well as survivor Betty Rohr.  The two other readers are a child of a survivor and a young lady who has lost family members because of cancer.  Ranging in age from 17 to 50, the readers symbolically show that cancer doesn't care how young or old you are, or whether you are a male or female.  


A warm welcome for Purple Power... with an awesome review

On the 12th of January 2004, Purple Power had its official unveiling at the kick-off for the Gage County Relay For Life event.  Everyone seemed excited by the idea and a few CDs found their way into new homes!
 
After the event I received an e-mail from Corrine Koch of Beatrice, Nebraska who shared her thoughts after her first listening to the CD.

"I bought one of your Purple Power CDs on Saturday at the Relay kick off and just got done listening to it.  What a beautiful CD!!  My husband was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins in Sept., 2001 and died in Oct., 2005. It was four years of fighting but sadly, God needed him more.  When listening to the CD it brought tears just thinking about all we went through also.  The CD expresses the fears, hopes, emotions,  etc., of all cancer patients and their families.  Thank you for putting all of them into words.  The music added fit the emotion. What a beautiful combination.    I hope the CDs will sell, once people listen to it I can't imagine them not selling.   I'm glad your wife is doing well and I pray that she continues to have good checkups."

All the publicity in the world, can't match a warm letter like this.  It is because of people like Corrine, that the dream of Purple Power came to life.

Other comments; "Sounds like Mannheim," TR (has lost family members to cancer)
"Awesome! Can't wait to own one." SK (ACS employee)
"She sounds so natural."  RD speaking about Lisa reading the poem Our Heroes"Really good poems and excellent music." JP recording supervisor

Available for sale at these on-line stores, as well as many others

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Also CD's available

CDBaby

Music For Recovery - The CD 12

12 had been a dream of mine for many years.  As The Beatles sung With a little help from my friends this dream is now a reality.  12 is a musical CD using 12 poems of mine on recovery.  So this album has a poet, a lifetime musician, a voice of an angel, and a creative talent that changed words to lyrics and made poems music.

The rock band The Who once sung, It's the singer, not the song, that makes the music move along.  What a wonderful way to explain what this album is about.  I have been writing poems for over ten years and it has always been a dream of mine to have my poems converted to song.

The Power of 12 is here!!! 12 Knights of the Roundtable... 12 days of Christmas... 12 Months... 12 Signs of the Zodiac... 12 Titans... 12 Olympians... 12 Tribes of Israel... 12 Apostles... and for those in recovery there are the 12 Steps and the 12 Promises.  And now music for those Steps and Promises.

The 12 Dream Team
 Alan Haven - every mix on this CD to every instrument played was done by Alan.  He had been performing for over 50 years and the music flows because of him.  Alan passed away in early 2016, this is his last collective work on a full original CD.  Just listen and be amazed with his talent.  Early on I got to sit in the studio with Alan and watch the ideas come to life and had the feeling that "12" was going to be a masterpiece. 

K.C. - wishes to remain anonymous for this project... yet everyone involved knew that they needed to protect their work on "12." So K recognized that some anonymity had to be sacrificed.  K was responsible for turning words into lyrics and many of the melodies were K's creation.  I put my trust in K and took their advice on what path we would go and for me it was the best decision I could have made.

HP Chylde - the angelic voice on 12 was recommended by both K and Alan.  Every time I got a new song to approve, I was in shock with how easily HP could change from one style to another and lose nothing from her voice.  I also loved the way she read The 12 Steps.  You can hear how Americans and English say words differently... yet like recovery... we understand.

Available at these fine on-line stores and many others

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CD's for sale

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Damaged Merchandise Audio Book

It is only fitting that the first book of the original trilogy should also be the first book turned to audio.

Read by Dave Harm, with background music composed and performed by Harm, the audience looks back at a time in sobriety where things were coming together.

Not all poems or stories from the first edition have made it into the audio version, simply because they were more of a personal side of Harm, which is no longer part of his life.

Yet, the poems and stories that have made him famous, from addiction, to abuse, and his heart felt words on cancer are all here ready to be heard.

Unlike most audio books, this book can be purchased as a whole book or just the chapters that you are interested in.
Available at all on-line stores as a whole book or available here if interested in just certain chapters.

Damaged Merchandise

Damaged Merchandise is a book about hope and dreams. Even those lost in an alcoholic or drug induce haze have dreams. They were just lost or "damaged" due to the abuse. With sobriety, came the knowledge that I needed to live in the real world. Still, with reality it was OK to dream. And with reality, I achieved goals, which I hoped would make my dreams come true! Damaged Merchandise is the story of dreams coming true, while living in the real world.

Told through stories and poems, Damaged Merchandise: Poems and Stories of an Alcoholic Addict, is my story. A story of destruction and damage, which 12 years later, I'm still trying to correct. At times, the poems leave the reader wondering "what if?" and that's OK, because the final chapter, in my life has yet to be written.

From homelessness, to ODing, failed suicides, running and hiding (both from myself and the law), its all here. From drug dealing, to stealing, to hitch-hiking the USA, the reader enters a world, where few go and fewer survive!
Damaged Merchandise  is now available as audio book.  Click here for more information on this project and to order yours today.

The beginning of Chapter 2 entitled Abuse...
It wasn't to long ago in our history, that abuse was easy to define.  Someone who was physically beaten was indeed abused.  But, it did not involve children.  Some kids needed to be beaten, to help "straighten them out."  Spouses were an OK target to physically punish, as the law did little to help them, believing the couple was married and it was a private matter.  As years went by, our understanding of abuse changed.  Children did not have to be a target for their parents.  Spouses were also protected.
From the story Rational Desolation...
Damn! I hate the day and I pray for the night.  I hope it comes soon.  I don't want to fight.  People don't bother me, my parents don't scare me, my brothers and my friends don't know me.... more of this story on page 77

Preview...
Have you ever been to a larger size city and walked through their busy main streets? You'll look into the windows and see merchandise, you've never seen before. You'll stop into a little cafe and try some "home cooking." You'll watch the people walk by on the sidewalks, the cars behind them, racing in both directions. Then reality sets in, ever so slowly, a dirty man, with torn clothes, has his hand out, begging for money. Some look away, others feel pity, while still others are angry. I know, because I seen all these feelings when I was homeless. I heard stories from the Bible, and was told to "get a job!" I was harassed, kicked and spit upon. It didn't bother me, just please, give me your loose change. I grew up in a proud home (with what the outside saw) that had strong values. But they didn't see inside the closed doors, it was quite dysfunctional. It was from this craziness, that I survived. I survived homelessness, alcoholism, drug addiction, divorces, numerous court cases and jail. That craziness made me who I am. That craziness gave me a life, it gave me an excuse. For most of my adult life, my childhood ruled me. 

Marriages failed because of my parents. It was their fault I lost jobs. On and on, it went. As long as it was their fault, I did not have to accept responsibility for my actions. That was until my drinking could not be avoided. In court rooms, they didn't want to hear about "poor Dave." They would not let me push my responsibility on someone else. Looking at many years in the penal system, the fear of God set in, and I realized this was my last chance. Some would say, I quit to avoid jail. They are correct. But that fear has kept me sober for over nine years. I still remember my last drunk, my first day in court, and my first counseling session. I was defeated, scared, and totally hopeless. If I didn't go to court, there is little doubt in my mind, that I would be dead. Either someone would have killed me, I would have killed myself, or alcoholism would have done me in. While alcoholism, helped me survive many trials, it should be stated that, all these trials I created! Sobriety, brought new challenges. Most people call this - life! Pay bills, accept responsibility and try to rebuild burnt bridges. Sobriety gave me strength and courage to move forward. I am so thankful, that my wife, Betty did not have to go through breast cancer alone. If I was drinking, I wouldn't have been there for her, physically - maybe, spiritually - no way.

 What's been said about Damaged Merchandise
From PublishAmerica Executive Director, Miranda Prather, said that Harm's book "is a well written and crafted work of contemporary poetry. Mr. Harm is a promising talent in his field." 


Tom Osborne, US Congressman from Nebraska and their former football coach wrote,  "Your book sounds quite interesting. I commend you on your willingness and courage to share details of your situation with others. I also appreciate your efforts to help people understand the ramifications of substance addiction. Like you, I am deeply concerned about the alcohol problem facing the United States, particularly underage drinking among our young children.  It is devastating that in many cases it takes the loss of life for some to recognize the severity of the problems associated with alcohol abuse. As a society, we can no longer have a complacent attitude towards underage drinking if we want to stop the increased risk of harm that lasts well beyond our youth's adolescent years. As parents, grandparents, teachers, and mentors, we owe it to our youth and the communities in which we live to
tackle these problems before they worsen."

War Zone

War Zone is the prequel to Damaged Merchandise.  It takes place 10 years before the poetry came alive. It is the story of Dave Harm's first two years of sobriety and the demons he battled, not only those within himself, but with
those around him. He realized that curing his addictions was only half the battle. The other half was realizing
that many of his relationships were toxic to his own sobriety.

By reading his journals, you'll see the hell, he personally created! A hell, which at times, he wasn't sure he wanted
to escape. Harm knew he couldn't go back, but he was scared to move forward. War Zone begins a lifelong journey
out of hell, as Harm finds the gifts and promises of sobriety.

With sobriety, Dave began a spiritual journey. An adventure, filled with enlightenment and an awareness that he
wasn't alone. He continues to seek serenity and peace, in all his surroundings.

 Quote from War Zone..."It is so easy for human beings to get caught up with images and comparisons of others. Someone may have a better house or a fancier car, but is that what I'm striving for?"

 Preview...
I started '96 in divorce court. Sometime around March, Janice moved across the state, to be closer to her family. All reminders of my life as a married man, were now gone. There was some depression, by the way the events unfolded. But, from everything I had experienced, I realized I just completed one hell of a journey. It was a journey out of hell! For well over a year, I was in the grieving process, burying "drunk Dave." A part of me which help me survive. I know it was an insane way to live, but "drunk Dave," led an exciting life. Maybe exciting isn't the best word to use, but it was a life many people don't get to experience. Homelessness, a couple of OD's, two failed marriages before I was 40 years old, and a very real spiritual awakening. For the first time, I was on my own, but I wasn't alone. No more courts or counselors. Nothing keeping me sober, except me and my Higher Power! By June of '96, I was ready to change my program of recovery, to a program of discovery. Don't get me wrong, AA saved my life. Now I wanted a little more. I didn't want to sit in meetings, talking about what I needed to do. It was time to start doing it! I don't go to AA much anymore, but I still try to live by the practices I learned there.

My program of discovery would be taking that last "leap of faith," and seeing what the world had to offer me. It was also that "leap of faith," which would show me, that I had something to offer the world. Within a month, I would resign from my job and move. I believed, that for me to grow, I needed to wipe the slate entirely clean. Anything that I had while I was drinking, I needed to bury with "drunk Dave." So with the clothes on my back, my old dog, and an old Dodge, we headed down the road. It wasn't as easy as I make it sound, but it needed to be done. I left Seward, knowing I didn't run. I stayed to the end! I also realized that I needed to remember the last two years living there because I would use it as my foundation to stay sober. If any thoughts of drinking would enter my mind, all I'd have to see, was an image of four scared children, whom I verbally and physically helped to destroy. AA says not to "dwell in the past." I don't dwell in it, but I also don't want to forget it.

 From the publisher on their press release...
"We were already familiar with Mr. Harm's work from his first book, Damaged Merchandise, Poems and Stories of an Alcoholic Addict, said Miranda Prather, executive director. 'War Zone, Backing out of Hell is another well written and crafted contemporary work that fits our specialty like a glove."

"PublishAmerica primarily publishes works by, for or about people who face a challenge in life, and who overcome it by turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones. We believe that Mr. Harm is an accomplished talent in this field."

Creating Dreams

Creating Dreams, is the third book in my trilogy.  Damaged Merchandise showed the reader the hopes and dreams that can come alive through sobriety.  Its prequel War Zone, shares my struggles with my first two years of sobriety.

And now Creating Dreams takes you on the journey of an Adult Child, dealing with the anger and confusion of a dysfunctional childhood, up to the point of addiction.

Addiction not only to drugs and alcohol but also to women and people that would fall for the manipulative games played during those insane times.
Creating Dreams is the prequel to War Zone and it lets go the last secrets of the past.

Dave Harm learned as a child, that abuse was acceptable, whether physically, sexually, or emotionally.  The ends justified the means.

 Preview...
Can a child learn to live and function in society, while memories of a dysfunctional past haunt him? This is my question.  A question, which I have not been able to answer, satisfactorily till this day.  Yes, I'm alive, now over 50 years of age, but I still find trouble trying to function.  I know how to survive.  I learned that at a very early age.  With two drunken parents, two brothers filled with anger and rage, and another brother who ran away and never looked back, survival got me to this point.  But there has got to be more.

By the time I was seven years old, I was on my way to being a master manipulator.  Anything I could do, to give my life any resemblance of peace I would try.  At this age, my major weapon was - lying.  I lied for my drunken mom, so she wouldn't be beaten by a father, who would come home from work expecting dinner and finding nothing.  Hi Dad.  Mom has been in bed all day, she's really sick.  A silence would fill the room.  He knew I was lying, but somewhere in his own mind, he also knew I was a child.  For an hour, maybe a little more, the house was quiet.  During that time, Dad would drink his scotch and waters.  Two, three, maybe four.  Pacing the house, any attempts to have a conversation with him was a waste of time.  As time past you could cut the tension with a knife.  Death hung in the air.  Dad was ready to explode, and Mom would pay the price, for drinking all day.  For sleeping, when
there was no supper.  For not being responsible enough, to make sure their filthy kid, took a bath.  Anything and everything would be her fault, and she would pay the price.  Growing up in this situation I began to feel the weight of the world.  I came to believe these beatings were a direct result of my actions.  Smacks could be heard throughout the house.  The silence was now broken, with the screams of my Mom and the yells of Dad.  Walls would shake, as she was repeatedly thrown against them, or picked up from the floor and slammed down once again.  What is a child suppose to do? I still hear the screams.  I see the black eyes, the swollen cheeks, and hear my father’s words.  If you don't quit drinking, I'll kill you. 

Poetry Ambassador

Received in 2006... The award was given to people whose love of poetry

is so great that they want to share the joy of poetry to anyone who is interested.