Customer Reviews

Celebrate Through Heartsongs

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Mattie Stepanek's poetry leaves some people wondering how a child could express his thoughts and feelings with such style and grace, and yet as I read through the pages I find myself understanding exactly what he means, and remembering my own special words for entities when I was a child. Mattie is sparked with the grace all of us are born with, but few continue to hold. He exhibits real intelligence, not by calculating or giving us a technological advancement, not by teaching us how to manage our money or how to avoid shelling it out to the IRS. Mattie's intelligence is of the highest variety--the understanding that Love is Law and that the only things of value in this world are the eternal souls--fellow human beings made in the Creator's Image--that we meet and hopefully commune with (rather in a sandbox or by a fireplace) every day of our lives.

The simplicity of Mattie's poetry is its power. His thoughts are deep and well expressed for one of his age. I have been reading his poetry for a while now and find that his words make me smile, make me cry, and most all of all - make me think. If all of our children had the thoughts and goals of this young man, the world would bloom into a much nicer place.

I'd never heard of Mattie until I tuned into Larry King one night during June 2004 to watch his show. The show was dedicated to Mattie after his untimely death from muscular dystrophy. All I can say is that I was both moved and inspired. Hearing Mattie (the show was a re-run of his 2002 appearance) read his poetry was just amazing. He saw things in ways that only a child could see. Maybe as we grow up, we look at the world differently, but his vision of the world through his poetry was refreshing and inspirational.
Being a screenwriter, I am always looking for inspiration. I have a young female character that I had developed only so far. It appears Mattie was the missing piece. It seems I was "meant" to watch that show, to take something from it. I will now complete that character by moulding some of Mattie's ideals and traits into that character.

Mattie, in your short life, you achieved more than I think I have in my 28 years on this Earth. I am a dreamer and much of my time has been wasted dreaming. Your illness was was your weakness, but your strenght showed how weak I am. Time is precious and you made the most of your time on this Earth.

With your poetry, you will have the last word. Hopefully we can all take something from your words, that are so simple, but are formed in such an awe-inspiring way. The world is complicated right now. But simple is always best. And you were the best. God Bless.

This AUDIO BOOK of spoken poetry is the 4th installment of the 5 original VSP-Published books of HeartSongs by Mattie Stepanek. Celebrate Through Heartsongs is among some of his very best poetic efforts. Mattie Stepanek died on 22 June 2004 (at age 13) from Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Mattie was a confirmed genius, but a humble and sweet one who loved God and hated no one. This is a collection of poems that speak volumes about Mattie's wisdom and insights into such difficult topics as: Fear, Love, Suffering, Lonliness, Relationships, Life's Goals/Dreams, and Impending Death. Mattie had the wisdom and understanding of a 52 year old adult.

This audio book of Mattie's poems (in fact ALL of the 5 books) is read by Mattie, himself. He is 100% genuine and 100% endearing! His voice alone, gives the listener marvelous glimmers of his erudite, but very gentle personality.

In Celebrate through Heartsongs we hear a sweet child's voice with a wise person's message. However, the power of Mattie's voice is neither his sweetness nor his wisdom. Rather, it's his great clarity and sureness. Mattie uses death to remind us of what's important, and he cuts right to the chase without any confusion or distraction. This refreshes the reader.

The collection of poems contained in this particular volume of Mattie's work is inconsistent. For example, the emotional charge you receive from reading a poem like "Post-terrorism Haiku" is not the same as the flatter and less interesting experience of reading "Winter Tops." Still, there is enough beef in Celebrate Through Heartsongs to satisfy the reader.

Mattie's heart shines so brightly through his work, and uplifts the spirits of those who may feel like there is nothing left to live for. He is a beacon in the dark, and his writing is soothing to the soul.
Keep going Mattie, no matter what ANYONE says, keep up your fantastic work. You are truly a gift to humanity, and your writing is incredibly beautiful, touching, and deeply needed!
10 Stars!

Mattie was a special soal. His heart was an inspiration to anyone who ever saw or met Mattie. I miss him. He spoke with his loving heart.
A joy child who contributed so much in his short life. Everyone should
read what he shared with the world.

His poetry is some of the best I have ever heard. It is even better to hear him read the poems. This book is worth buying. He will touch your heart.

I am a single mother of a 7 month little boy, Georgi. My mother bought all of Mattie's books for me to read to my son and I am so grateful to have Mattie's books which celebrate love, tolerance and peace. I will use Mattie's books for guidance to raise a mindful young man who I hope also chooses to become a peacemaker and poet. God bless Mattie and his mother. We are blessed to have known Mattie who inspired so many people. The world is a better place because he lived!

Mattie J.T. Stepanek was a rare soul and a lesson to all of us. He was a brave and courageous child, who despite suffering from a life-threatening illness that took the life of his three siblings, remained optimistic, and definitely had a wisdom beyond his years.

If this were a rating for the author as a person, then he would definitely rate 5 stars and beyond. However, as this rating is intended for the poetry and for the book, then I have to be honest. The meter and rhythm of the poems are extremely awkward.

While free verse poetry is not intended to have a regular metrical pattern, it is supposed to have rhythm and other poetic devices that make it poetry so that even when it's read aloud, one can tell that it's poetry, regardless of whether or not it rhymes. In all honesty, Mattie's poems sound like prose that has divided up into many lines to look like poetry.