Until he was eleven Christopher was unable to communicate and there were those who refused to believe his Mother's assertion that he was aware and intelligent. A drug that allowed him partial control of his neck was the first breakthrough. His Mother gave his head extra support with her hands and Christopher manipulated the "unicorn" stick to touch keys on the typewriter. His first book Dam-burst of Dreams is the literary explosion that resulted. He claimed that he had been fully aware and writing poetry in his head from the age of three! Later, more advances in drug therapy and the use of a computer word processor gave him more independence in the act of writing. Nolan's work is very beautiful and shows a deep Faith--all the more wonderful when one realises how his mind was so long locked within a paralysed body. Here are a couple of poems from Dam-burst written at the age of eleven:
Years dead tears, peter down my face, Lucifer quietly plays me down, Out of a light there came Christ Divine, Peace always comes, reigns awhile. Day after dawn, raw quiet rested there, As I peered through rough pastures, Dew drops glistened in golden buttercups. Aug. 1977
Taste of pity as people stare, Love, lots of love from mother, Pills you find as lasting prayer, An irate person may possibly Have faith, instead of despair. Sept. 1977
For a short time he was a shining light. May he rest in the peace of Christ.
Bless his mother’s heart for not giving up on him. RIP poet in the arms of the Lord.
Makes me feel hugely ashamed of myself for giving up again and again on my own writing.