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Summary: A wise boy poet genius continues to rapidly grow
Review: Young poet Mattie J.T. Stepanek does it again. In Hope Through Heartsongs he takes his already wise, visionary, and layered poetry a step FURTHER. In his two previous Heartsongs books he showed that he was astoundingly wise (and talented) beyond his years, or beyond any years for that matter. Just take his two past books and multiply the wisdom and talent multifold -- and you have Hope Through Heartsongs. When does this young artist and self-proclaimed peace-maker's incredible personal growth STOP?? There's absolutely no sign of it yet. Indeed, Hope Through Heartsongs, clearly originally in the works before 911 took place, includes an up-to-date introduction by Mattie: "We cannot let sad or traumatic events, or even acts of terror, be the death of hope,' he writes. "That is why this book explores these issues and finds that in spite of each struggle, we can and will find hope if we choose to do so." And he has clearly chosen to do so, and to urge others with every fiber of his being to make the same choice. By now you may know the story: he has muscular dystrophy and
lost all of his three siblings to the same disease. Several poems deal with his losses, his thinking through the death's meaning and possibility, and pondering life's meaning -- and
opportunities. One of the most touching poems is "Walking Again,' a reflection on the situation, changes and his wishes upon discovering that his beloved mother could no longer walk or playfully toss him in the air. Yet his poems are not "downers" but about hope and peace, with titles such as Beyond the Pain, Bravery Prayer, On Saying Goodbye, Examination of Faith, Just Peace, The Bigger Picture, Believing in Someday -- and many more. He dedicates this book to "all people who are struggling to find hope" and divides it into three sections: Hope for Within, Hope for Each Other, Hope for Our World. People are WRONG who call Mattie a great child poet. He is a great POET...period. In another culture he'd be a guru and would have followers far and wide. Why? Because Mattie Stepanek just doesn't speak from the brain, or even from the heart, but from deep within his soul....a very old, experienced and wise soul.
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