Ruse on the Loose: Poetry helps Oak Ridge man with Asperger’s grow

For Jim Madonna, being able to express himself through poetry was a chance to communicate his thoughts with the outside world.

“Communication belongs to all of us and that’s what I want to show in my poetry. That I can reach out to those people who feel unlistened to, unheard and unacknowledged,” Madonna said. “That’s really my goal with this book. I really want to reach the unreached, the people in our midst who struggle with the greatest disability of all: loneliness.”

Madonna, 27, began writing poems for what would be his first book, “Poetry from the Next Room,” at 16. He got the title for the book from an ongoing joke with an aunt about how no matter where you go, there’s always a room nearby with access restricted to a chosen few.

“It’s always a mysterious place where no one is allowed which, of course, makes those who aren’t allowed real curious about what’s in the next room. Like the standard signage, ‘Employees only,’ or ‘Do not enter’ and you’re like, well, what could be there that I can’t go in there? And then usually you find out, it’s just the boiler room or storage closet and you feel silly for investing all that time and energy into wondering what was in this next room,” Madonna said with a laugh.

“I figured if I wrote a book of poetry, it would make people feel like VIPs, being allowed into a next room and there’s actually something worth seeing. Plus, I feel like it’s also a very good metaphor for folks living with Asperger’s syndrome and autism disorders. Very often, people seem to view autism and Asperger’s as a mysterious thing and everyone seems to want to try to figure it out. I had a lifetime of people trying to figure me out and what was in this next room of being known as me. Then, for a long while, I was probably the only one in the school system who was diagnosed — so that made me exceptionally interesting.”

Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at a young age, Madonna realized something was amiss in his personal dealings with family and friends but he wasn’t sure exactly what it was or how to express it. Asperger’s syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive behavioral patterns.

“I’m pretty self-educated due to my interest in my own wellbeing. I know when I was younger, I did not very often have the confidence or ability to relate to other people, where I could feel comfortable. I was afraid of being laughed at, afraid of being judged, afraid of not being understood because there were moments when I would make the effort and I was judged or laughed at or not understood,” said Madonna, who lives in Oak Ridge and graduated from Jefferson Township High School.

“I think it was a salvation that I discovered poetry. Poetry was kind of my way of speaking my true thoughts, being my true self in a way where I could feel safe and slowly build confidence, sort of introduce others to me in a non-threatening, non-confusing way.”

His poems “Nature’s Changing,” “This Is the Day,” and “Trapped No More,” show Madonna’s growth as a person and gave the teen a chance to learn how to recognize and acknowledge the things he could do well.

“I often did feel alone when I was growing up, especially when I hit middle school. That’s actually where I was first exposed to poetry through a school writing assignment and, thankfully, I realized it’s a form of self-expression. And I knew very often that I could tell that I was different but I never really knew why. As a result, inwardly I suffered, and I kind of had to find backdoor ways to getting clued in. I was always very much of a deep thinker, so I tended to overthink at times. I was very frustrated with not having answers for years and that was what led me to start writing poetry, because it was really like a protest for answers, like a petition for answers from the universe.”

‘Poetry from the Next Room’ covers Madonna’s writing from high school until just after he received his master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Hartford in Connecticut.

“Poetry was kind of my protest against the things that I perceived to be awry in the way people talked where I could say, if anyone’s going to tell my story it’s not going to be you, it will be me. Because it’s my story, it’s my struggle. I kind of wanted to take back my life, take back the privilege of enjoying being me because, hey, I’m the only me I’ve got,” Madonna said.

“Poetry isn’t going to try to judge you or refute you or do anything to make you feel what you want to say is less valid. You can trust poetry. I like that it’s an outlet for expression. Poetry is just really your thoughts on the page and you can do what you want with it. It brings to life the Invictus poem where the last line is ‘I am the captain of my soul.’ ”

Madonna is already working on his second book of poems, titled “Poetry Beyond the Next Room,” and a book of prose. Both books will allow him to continue to share his experiences of growing up and how he’s taken on the challenges thrown his way by Asperger’s.

“Through my exploration of self through poetry and through faith and through everything else and through my studies in communication, I’ve actually realized that the most disabling thought about disorders and differences of any kind really, it’s not so much the thing itself, it’s the way we talk about it. It sort of gave me a greater sort of empathy for other people on the autistic spectrum.”

“Poetry from the Next Room” released by Dorrance Publishing is available at www.dorrance

publishing.com, www.

amazon.com or www.

barnesandnoble.com.

Help the Homeless

Bubba is a 3-year-old Husky mix with a beautiful fur coat that kept him nice and warm all winter long. He was saved from a high-kill shelter just before his time was up after he charmed the shelter workers. This very handsome fellow loves to be outside and will enjoy being with a family with children who will play with him and keep him entertained. No cats for him please, but he is dog-friendly.

To read more about Bubba, to fill out an application and to see all the pets needing homes, please visit www.ehrdogs.

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Sussex County seniors attend Boys State

During June, 32 incoming high school seniors from Sussex County attended the 69th session of the American Legion Jersey Boys State at Rider University in Lawrenceville. The program is an action-oriented approach for teaching civics and government at the local, county and state levels.

Statesmen in attendance were: Dominick Alcantara, Newton, Legion Post 157; Craig Corti, Stockholm, Legion Post 132; John Dondero, Byram, Legion Post 278; Matteo Ferraro, Stanhope, Legion Post 278; Michael Garth, Flanders, Legion Post 278; Andrew Geib, Newton, Legion Post 157; Phillip Haines, Andover, Legion Post 86; Shayne Harrell, Hamburg, Legion Post 491; Derek Hendershot, Hamburg, Legion Post 132; Joseph Hollis, Flanders, Legion Post278; Ryan Jeskey, Newton, Legion Post 157; Kyle Kasharian, Andover, Legion Post 86; Alexander Lagasca, Sparta, Legion Post 491; Timothy Lavery, Hopatcong, Legion Post 278; Shane Logue, Flanders, Legion Post 278; Harrison MacDowall, Newton, Legion Post 86; Daniel Marion, Newton, Legion Post 86; Keith Morel, Newton, Legion Post 86; Matthew Peters, Lafayette, Legion Post 213; Dillon Prendergast, Sparta, Legion Post 491; Peter Previte, Hackettstown, Legion Post 278; James Schoch, Sparta, Legion Post 491; Sean Siek, Stockholm, Legion Post 132; Evan Vetter, Andover, Legion Post 278; and Patrick Zazzaro, Flanders, Legion Post 278.