EDITORIAL REVIEW BY THE TRANSLATOR
In this collection, SOOTHING POETRY IN SPANISH and ENGLISH, written by Brenda Mohammed, the author includes poems on a variety of topics.
She writes about love, dreams, hopes, family, and the pandemic in which we find ourselves today.
My favourite poem is "The Personal Benefits of Lockdown" because, in this poem, the author manages to see the positive aspects of these terrible times and can appreciate the good that the pandemic has brought out in various family members.
She points out the hope in the hopeless and the importance of not despairing in a time of darkness.
As implied in the poem, there is always light at the end of the tunnel and it is important to carry on with our lives.
The author's optimism is also apparent in the other poems in the collection.
She pens her thoughts on various subjects like making mistakes, women's role in society, human companionship, and the importance of nature and our surroundings.
In one of her poems, she also gives great advice on how to live life to the fullest.
Throughout the poems, the author displays a deep insight into life and experiences that we all encounter in our day-to-day existence.
She attempts to place these everyday experiences into an inspiring collection that makes for comforting reading during these difficult times.
They are written simply and with feeling as the author muses on all types of situations, no matter how banal they may seem.
The author uses material that is not usually poetic and turns them into poetry. Her work depicts an extraordinary observation of normal, simple occurrences. She has the skill of making the mundane poetic.
One example is when she talks about friends sharing a recipe and experiencing a joyous time.
Another example is the poem that talks about her favourite chair.
The chair seems so inviting that it begins to adopt human qualities.
In short, the poems in this compilation are didactic, fun to read, and full of hope and insight.
The collection has interests for every reader and I would recommend the poems as enjoyable reading to help us reflect on our everyday experiences.
The observant eye of the author makes us look afresh at human nature and what we need to experience a true sense of satisfaction in this life.
The theme of optimism runs throughout the collection.
The Book is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/SOOTHING-POETRY.../dp/B08D4VSBV9
Dr. Arabella Persaud
Spanish College Professor
BIO:
Arabella Persaud is originally from Trinidad but now lives in Los Angeles, California. She holds a BA in Spanish from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and an MA and PH. D in Spanish from the State University of New York in Buffalo. At present, she is a Professor at Southwest College in Los Angeles, California.
