Cloudboy

Discover 'Cloudboy', a deeply evocative and sensitive poetry collection that captures the profound journey of a mother navigating the complexities of raising an autistic child. Authored by Siobhan Harvey, this award-winning suite of 80 pages, published by Otago University Press, takes readers into the heart of a unique boy's world. Through heartfelt verses, the poet explores themes of love, frustration, and the trials faced when introducing a vibrant, unpredictable child to the structured environment of the school system. The delicate interplay of emotions resonates with empathetic parents who share the common fears of childhood. With a lens fixated on the challenges and successes of education, 'Cloudboy' skillfully portrays a mother’s unwavering love amidst anxiety and concern. The intricate poetry reads like a masterclass in emotional depth, offering insights into a child’s imaginative landscape—where clouds become metaphors for moods, dreams, and identity. Each poem conveys a sense of wonder and struggle, highlighting the joys and sorrows of early childhood. Whether you're seeking a deeper understanding of autism or simply wish to appreciate moving literature, 'Cloudboy' offers a unique and profound perspective you won't want to miss. A perfect addition to your personal library, it's ideal for those interested in modern poetry, autism awareness, and human emotions. Invite this tender and transformative collection into your life today.

Author: Siobhan Harvey Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 148 x 210 mm
Pages: 80
Publication Date: 28-04-2014

"Cloudboy" is a deep-mulling, richly sensitive account of a mother's adjustments to the needs of an autistic child.
This prize-winning suite of poems grows out of extremes of love and frustration, as the poet introduces a bright, unpredictable, markedly individual boy to the rigid, often airless routines of the school system.
Any empathetic parent knows the fears and anxieties of sending a young child into the world of other children, their casual cruelties and dreamy naivety. Each concern in exponentially increased when a child's educational and emotional needs set them apart.
Cloudboy writes his own version of Genesis, he invents a new language; he sketces intricate maps; he reads Aristotle and develops an obsession with Dr Who; he interrupts; he sways; his 'fists come clenched and swinging'. To onlookers, Cloudboy seems troubled, trouble.
Cirrus, cumulus, arcus, stratus: cloud forms speak to Harvey of the phrases of the mother-child bond; the mood-swings and leaps of her child's mind; the mutability of personality; the attraction and evaporation of human kindness; presence and absence; reverie and forgetfulness; the intensity and yet bittersweet transience of early childhood.
With a limber, gorgeously metamorphic sense of sculptural and sonic aspects of poetic form, this book is a tender and detailed atlas of a child's imaginative potential. Yet one of the most remarkable gifts it reveals for us readers is Cloudmother's own finely calibrated perceptions.