Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait in Poetry

By Mattie J.T. Stepanek

I write about anything that touches the essence of my existence. What I witness, what I feel, what I think, what I fear, what I treasure. I write about life, which is our greatest gift. --Mattie Stepanek, 1990-2004

Mattie J. T. Stepanek lived and died a child, but he had the spirit of a giant. Affected by a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease, Mattie lived almost fourteen years but in that time became a poet, best-selling author, peace activist, and a prominent voice for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Before his death in June 2004, his five volumes of Heartsongs poetry sold more than a million copies.

Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs is the final collection of Heartsongs that Mattie was working on when he died. It includes the last poem Mattie penned along with a special collection of unpublished poetry, photographs, and artwork spanning the decade from when he began writing Heartsongs at age three. Culled from the thousands of poems, essays, and journal entries Mattie left behind, the entries in Reflections of a Peacemaker create a portrait of Mattie in his own words. In these poems he explores disability, despair, and death but also the gifts he finds in nature, prayer, peace, and his belief in something bigger and better than the here and now. The poems are grouped by theme such as playful, stormy, sacred, and final Heartsongs, with each section introduced by a personal tribute from the likes of Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, and former President Jimmy Carter.

In the words of Mattie's mother, Jeni Stepanek, who has published Reflections of a Peacemaker at her son's request, In reading these poems we enter Mattie's world and gain insight through a child who somehow balanced pain and fear with optimism and faith.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0740756257
• ISBN13: 9780740756252
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

never walk alone!

A collection of poems from the vault that are a blast from the past!

True

This book is an inspiration in many ways. Mattie is a true hero for all disabled, dreamers, writers, peacemakers, and anyone who has a heartsong. The book says "slow down", "be silent"; advice that we forget to use many times in our busy lives. If we all read the book with deep thought and an open heart, I believe it would bring us a step closer to world peace. In a word, this book is amazing!

Heartsongs can rewrite the "songs" we live by.

Mattie touched my heart with his heartbreak at loosing his siblings; his love of his mom and of life itself. He understood he had a limited time to be here on this earth and he made a decision to use that time to be someone that none of us will ever forget. The writings grow and mature as he does. I think he truly made an impact on his world and on those around him. We should all stand up for peace, safety, and happiness as Mattie did.

Hardened Hearts Need Not Apply

It would require nothing less than a hardened heart not to be moved by the words of Mattie Stepanek. "Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs" are the poems written by a young man severly disabled in body, yet he was often whole and strong in his soul. Taking this work in the context that it is meant to be taken in, Mattie displays more than an enormous amount of warmth and courage than most of us would be able to do in similar circumstances. I say this is "Real Poetry". Art is hardly ever a stand-alone product and there will always be a greater benefit to us if we attempt to understand its source. Through Mattie's words we hear the voice of a young poet who expresses a deep and meaningful understanding of what it is to be human. Brian Douthit Author Of Perfectly Said: when words become art

Mattie Making Peace

It is perhaps possible to read this book and miss the fact that Mattie's passion for peace motivated almost all of its contents -- including the narration by Jeni, his Mom, and the comments of his friends.The poems -- as simple and powerful as ever -- provide an autobiographical sketch. Jeni's unobtrusive and excellent comments provide a superb biographical outline.Mattie discussed the book with Jeni before he died, told her where his most recent poems were (in a folder under his bed) and, among other things, specifically instructed her about the last page -- after the index.When the reader reaches that point, he or she will understand Mattie's certain intention that this book should be a means of promoting his message of peace. He seems to be saying, at least to this reviewer, that Mattie, in every aspect of his life, had this goal in mind and he was eager to motivate his readers to share his dream. It is most certainly a commendable goal and one we should all take seriously. Bob Balkam

A Wonderful Book with a Real Challenge

The challenge issued on the last page of the book is a fitting climax to the journey the reader has made to reach that point. While the book is autobiographical -- Mattie's poetry is as transparent and disarmingly descriptive as ever -- it is also biographical. Jeni, Mattie's Mom, provides a narration which, with the chapter introductions by Mattie's friends, contribute a more comprehensive view of Mattie than we have had before. Autobiography and biography, partial though they are, make a powerful combination. Together, they make the book at one and the same time enjoyable, heart-wrenching, illuminating, and demanding. It is difficult to imagine anyone reading this book and not doing some soul-searching as a result. At the same time it is a very comforting and hopeful book. Mattie's passion for peace and hope which totally dominated his life, even in the face of almost unimaginable sufferings, will impress any reader, even those who had never heard of him before. Mattie's words ring forth: `Peace is possible. Live with hope.' Simply face the challenge on the last page. Bob Balkam