Customer Reviews

Embracing the Sky: Poems Beyond Disability

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

 

 

Being familiar with Craig and his family, I can validate that the words in these poems are straight from his experience and his heart. This gifted young man has gone from elementary school, junior high, high school, and on into college with a number of different aides to help him transfer his words from his mind onto paper with varying degrees of assistance. He now does much of his work with little to no physical support. His teachers and professors will verify the quality and authenticity of his work. One need only watch as he ponders and edits his exams and essays to realize that this individual has a highly active and intelligent mind, and that his aides are only providing the assistance his body needs in order to facilitate movement (similar to a Parkinsonian movement disorder).
Craig's poems about life with autism and cerebral palsy brought to light many struggles and issues his parents and aides were unaware of, and revealed the person trapped inside the disabled body. Craig has a unique personality with thoughts, insights, and ideas that those around him would not have imagined. While he may bring you to tears, Craig can also make you laugh, reflect, hope, and become angry--a sign of a truly gifted writer. His poems are alive, rich, genuine, and his own.

Craig's book of beautiful poems includes themes about both isolation, and coming into contact from isolation --- and how both of these feel. Sometimes the isolation is intense, and sometimes the contact is a shocking contrast. While his situation is not universal, I think these themes are universal human experiences, in one degree or another. In reading the book we get to celebrate Craig's experience of coming out into contact and community, and his staying in contact, even though it is sometimes painful. I like the prose writing at the end of the book as much as any of the poems. I admire Craig's kindness and fierce motivation to stay in contact, and his desire to help others through sharing his experiences and perspective.

As the mother of a young ASD child, this wonderful book of thoughtful (and yes sometimes painful) poems gives insight into the world of what it must be like for a lot of children that cannot verbalize expressively. Craig's willingness to share the good, the bad and the ugly is comforting to me and it does give me hope that there is a good chance that my child will, someday, be able to let me know the "Person He Is Within"...the good, the bad and the ugly of what he is/was feeling and what it must be like to live with a disease that would challenge even the heartiest of souls.

I love this little jewel of a book. It brings tears along with awe and joy in the inestimable power of the human spirit so eloquently expressed by Craig. Especially parents and grandparents of ASD children will be moved and heartened by hearing what they know their child is feeling but cannot express. I urge all of you who love a "special needs" person to give yourself and everyone you know the gift of this treasure.

I definitely recommend reading this book. I was very moved after I read the peotry, and i believe I am a better person for doing so. This would rank among some of the best books of poetry that I have ever read. If there is anyone who has a child with autism or any other type of disability, this would be a vey good book to read.

A talented wordsmith as well as a keen observer of life, Romkema chisels a a crack through the stone wall of autism for us to see life through his eyes. Far from a pity party of frustrating circumstances, Romkema's honesty and clarity invite us to examine life at a different angle, and appreciate it more deeply. Not only is this is an excellent resource for classrooms, or anyone seeking to understand the world of autism better, but it is a beautiful book of poetry for those who appreciate well-crafted writing.

An almost impossibly beautiful and touching collection of prose and poetry. Craig is an incredible inspiration not only to the autistic community, but to those of us in the non-disabled world, who with so many more resources, do so much less.

His insight and intelligence will help challenge the "soft bigotry of low expectations" we so often see directed at the special needs population.

Bravo, Craig!

Mary Tiesenga

The book was really written by Craig's mother Barb, that is why the one review picked up on the depression. His mother has always denied her son's problems. This is sad and hopefully someday she will come to the realization he will never be normal. Craig has competed everything with her by his side, she guides his hand on the keyboard, she speaks for him (which is really just her talking), basically she has completed school for him. Craig is a sweet person and he has a wonderful caring family. Hopefully someday his mother will come to terms with his physical and mental disabilities, when she does, it will help Craig more.