A SPARK OF HOPE  A Treasury of Poems for Saving Lives (3-book series)

A SPARK OF HOPE is a series of three books of poems to prevent suicide.
The poems within A Spark of Hope are therapeutic, and some have already saved lives.
This treasury of poems is intended to ignite a Spark of Hope in someone who has lost the will to live.
A Spark of Hope is meant to give hope where there is none.
The aim of the series is to encourage us to appreciate and value life as a precious gift.
We can change the things we wish and accept the ones we cannot change.
The Series is a collection of hopeful poems, by international poets, both acclaimed and some lesser-known.
These poems call us to the plight of the downtrodden, and victims without hope.
They force us to reach deep down within ourselves and retrieve a spark of hope to share, and bring a bit of comfort to those who need it most.
Sometimes, all it takes is a spark of hope.

Get them on Amazon. CLICK HERE

 

Magazine Series for How to Write for Success Literary Forum (3 book series)

How to Write for Success Literary Magazines contain interviews of many international literary icons, poems from five-star poets, articles, and poems from the Founder, and Literary Ambassadors, a round-up of the network's news, achievements over the past months of the forum, and more,
Sit back with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy.

GET THE SERIES FOR $3.97 on Amazon. CLICK HERE

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

 

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island Caribbean nation near Venezuela, with distinctive multi-cultural traditions and cuisines.

Numerous bird species inhabit sanctuaries such as the Asa Wright Nature Centre and the Caroni Bird Centre both of which are tourist attractions.

The smaller island of Tobago is known for its fabulous beaches, and the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, which shelters hummingbirds.

The twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago, is a small but high-income country. With a population of 1.3 million people and rich in natural resources such as oil and pitch, it has one of the highest GNI per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean.

English is the national language.

The island nation of Trinidad and Tobago stands out due to its ethnic makeup and diversified cultures. The population is multi-racial with a mixture of Afro-Trinidadians, Indo-Trinidadians, Syrians, and Europeans.

All races live in peace and harmony and celebrate all cultural activities. The diversity of the people is reflected in the islands' numerous festivals.

Trinidad and Tobago have a rich cultural life throughout the islands, celebrating all festivals such as the Muslim festival of Eid el Fitur, the Hindu festival of Divali, African festivals, Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter, dance, and literature.

Both islands host an annual boisterous carnival featuring calypso and soca music, during which time, tourists flock to the islands. It is an unforgettable experience in this oil-rich nation.

There are lovely beaches and hotels with international standards. Trinidad and Tobago is a tourist destination. 

From the cosmopolitan streets of the capital of Port-of-Spain to the tranquil beaches of Maracas and Tobago, everyone will find something interesting here.

MUSICTT provides industry-wide strategic direction and action plans toward the development of the music industry as well as guidance and access to music education and capacity development, especially in the business and monetization of local music and protection of the same.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S FILM INDUSTRY emerged in the late 1950s and by the late 1970s there was a small amount of local productions, which included both feature films and television programmes. Trinidad and Tobago boasts of unique country features and an ideal geographic location. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago possesses substantial resources for the production of feature films such as a variety of contrasting location sites all within close proximity to one another as well as experienced production crews. As a result of these resources, over a period of almost sixty years a number of international feature films have been shot on location in Trinidad and Tobago in spite of other more competitive locations in the Caribbean Region. Improvements in technology specifically the advent of low cost high definition video cameras in the 21st Century, has led to the production of several local feature films in Trinidad and Tobago.

FASHION TT - The Trinidad and Tobago Fashion Company Limited  was established in 2013 with the mandate to stimulate and facilitate the business development and export activity of the fashion industry in Trinidad and Tobago to generate national wealth.

LITERATURE - In the field of Literature, Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of many renowned writers like Sir Vidia S. Naipaul, Michael Anthony, and Cynthia James.

V. S. Naipaul was knighted in 1989. He was awarded the David Cohen British Literature Prize by the Arts Council of England in 1993.

In 2001, V. S. Naipaul was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

HISTORY OF THE ISLANDS

Indigenous First Peoples, first settled on the islands.

Human settlement in Trinidad dates back at least 7,000 years. The earliest settlers, termed Archaic or Ortoiroid, are believed to have settled in Trinidad and Tobago from north-eastern South America around 4000 BCE. SPANISH PERIOD

SPANISH RULE

The first-ever contact with Europeans occurred when Christopher Columbus, who was on his third voyage of exploration, arrived at noon on 31 July 1498. He landed at a harbour he called Point Galera, named the island Trinidad, and claimed it for Spain.  Tobago was seen by Columbus on 14 August 1498. He did not land there, but named the island Belaforme, "because from a distance it seemed beautiful. 

In 1530 Antonio Sedeño was appointed Governor of Trinidad. In 1532 he attempted to establish a settlement, but was driven off the island following the Battle of Cumucurapo, (or The Place of the Silk Cotton Tree). He withdrew to Margarita, but he returned a year later and built a settlement now known as Port of Spain. After failing to attract more settlers to Trinidad, Sedeño was forced to withdraw in 1534.

Sir Walter Raleigh, who was searching for El Dorado, arrived in Trinidad on 22 March 1595.

Spanish missions were established as part of the Spanish colonization.

BRITISH PERIOD

In 1797, a British force led by General Sir Ralph Abercrombie launched the invasion of Trinidad. His squadron sailed through the Bocas and anchored off the coast of Chaguaramas. The Spanish Governor Chacón decided to capitulate without fighting. Trinidad thus became a British crown colony, with a French-speaking population and Spanish laws.  British rule was formalized under the Treaty of Amiens.

British rule led to an influx of settlers from the United Kingdom and the British colonies of the Eastern Caribbean. English, Scots, Irish, German and Italian families arrived.

On 20 Oct. 1889, the British Government made Tobago a ward of Trinidad. 

In August, 1816, seven hundred former slaves from the U.S.A. arrived in Trinidad and Tobago. Full emancipation for all slaves was legally granted ahead of schedule on 1 August 1838.

AGRICULTURE

The sugarcane plantations which dominated the economy of Trinidad and Tobago in the 19th century gradually gave ground to the cultivation of cocoa. Trinidad and Tobago chocolate became a high-priced, much sought-after commodity. Venezuelan farmers with experience in cocoa cultivation were also encouraged to settle in Trinidad and Tobago, where they provided much of the early labour in these estates. Many of the former cocoa-producing areas of Trinidad retain a distinctly Spanish flavour and many of the descendants of the Cocoa panyols live in these areas including Trinidad and Tobago's most famous cricketer, Brian Lara.

INDENTURESHIP

In 1844, the British Government allowed the immigration of 2,500 Indian workers as indentured servants, from Calcutta and Madras. According to Williams, this was an effort to provide "an adequate and dependable supply of labour." They were financially compensated.

Chinese immigrants are now principally shopkeepers, as well as general merchants, miners, and construction workers.

Many Indian immigrants who had completed their Indentureship, also established businesses and estates. The Indian community has steadily prospered and grown and makes up about 45% of the population of the nation,

DISCOVERY OF OIL

The American Merrimac Oil Company drilled an early oil well at La Brea at Trinidad and Tobago in 1857, where oil was struck at 280 feet (85 m). Also mentioned is the pioneering work of Capt. Darwent with his Paria Petroleum Company Limited, and Conrad F. Stollmeyer, great grandfather of Republic Bank's then Chairman, former West Indies cricket captain, Jeffrey Stollmeyer), an entrepreneur of that period.

In 1893 Mr Randolph Rust, along with his neighbour, Mr Lee Lum, drilled a successful well near Darwent's original one. Estimated oil production in Trinidad and Tobago in 2005 was about 150,000 barrels per day.

The high oil prices of the 1970s and early 1980s led to an oil boom which resulted in a large increase in salaries, standards of living, and corruption.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Trinidad was ruled as a Crown colony with no elected representation until 1925.

The 1956 general elections saw the emergence of the People's National Movement under the leadership of Eric Williams. The PNM, opposed by Dr. Rudranath Capildeo of the Democratic Labour Party and Ashford Sinanan, continued to dominate politics in Trinidad and Tobago until 1986.

The PNM party won every General Election between 1956 and 1981. Williams became prime minister at independence, and remained in that position until his death in 1981.

Trinidad and Tobago obtained its independence from the British Empire in 1962 and became a Republic in 1976.

On 1 August 1976, the country became a Republic, and the last Governor-General, Sir Ellis Clarke, became the first President.

The PNM remained in power following the death of Dr. Williams, but its 30-year rule ended in 1986 when the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), a multi-ethnic coalition won a landslide victory by capturing 33 of 36 seats. Tobago's A. N. R. Robinson, the political leader of the NAR, was named Prime Minister.

In December 1991, the PNM, led by Patrick Manning, won a majority of 21 seats, and the UNC came in second. Manning became the new Prime Minister.  In November 1995, Manning called early elections, in which the PNM and UNC both won 17 seats and the NAR won two seats. The UNC allied with the NAR and formed the new government, with Basdeo Panday becoming prime minister – the first prime minister of Indo-Trinidadian descent.

Elections held in December 2000 returned the UNC to power when they won 19 seats, while the opposition PNM won 16, and the NAR 1. The UNC government fell in October 2001 and Patrick Manning of the PNM was appointed Prime Minister..

The PNM formed the next government after winning 20 seats, while the UNC won 16. Both parties are committed to free market economic policies and increased foreign investment.

On 26 May 2010, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, leader of the People's Partnership, was sworn in as the country's first female Prime Minister.  On 19 March 2018 Trinidad's first female President, Ms. Paula-Mae Weekes was sworn in

In August 2020, the governing People's National Movement won general elections, and the incumbent Prime Minister Keith Rowley started serving a second term.

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago are a tourist haven, and can also boast of having a diverse set of mix of arts and cultural activities, some of which have been expanded in composition, size, and structure to become the main sectors of a growing cultural industry.

Trinidad and Tobago has remained cooperative with the United States in the regional fight against narcotics trafficking and on other issues.

[Source: Wikipedia/ Internet]

N.B. Many of the author's books are set in the beautiful islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Get them at Amazon

Seven poems by Trinidadian Brenda Mohammed were published by EXILO binational newspaper in New York and Mexico.

 

Seven poems written by Brenda Mohammed of Trinidad and Tobago were published by the EXILO binational newspaper for New York and Mexico, by columnist Marcia Batista Ramos, a Bolivian poet.

https://exilio.mx/cultura/item/17423-seite-poemas-de-brenda-mohammed

Here is the news report:

Brenda Mohammed is an award-winning and bestselling author who has published 53 books.

She is the founder of How to Write for Success Literary Network, President of the International Chamber of Writers and Artists [CIESART] Trinidad and Tobago, and President of the Hispanic World Writers Union - Trinidad and Tobago

Here is a sample of her work:

 

TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME

 

We all feel a little depressed sometimes.

But let's learn to take one day at a time.

Life is truly a maze of ups and downs.

The choices we make will eliminate the frown.

When we set our goals a little too high,

Disappointment can make us cry.

Keep doing your best and don't worry.

Let life unfold for you, it is your story.

Some days the sun will shine brightly.

On other days it can rain very hard.

What does it matter if things go wrong?

Never let it stop you from staying strong.

Things cannot always go well.

The black dots are dotted among the bright ones.

Don't let anyone make you feel less

You are a child of God and truly blessed.

 

***

WHAT LOVE IS NOT

 

Love is not a whirlwind of words describing sensual emotions.

Love is not something temporary; it is a deep devotion.

The feelings that love provokes are not superficial.

They penetrate the heart with each beat.

Marriage is an equal partnership and an intimate union.

It is a legal contract between a man and a woman.

Unite their lives legally, financially and emotionally.

Love is the main factor that unites them for sure.

Nobody is perfect, and nobody is better than the other.

When there are minor disagreements, don't run away with someone else.

Simple words like "Thank you" and "I'm sorry" mean a lot.

Pay attention to what your loved one has to say; Give it a shot.

Lies and broken promises should never be the norm.

Such deceit and selfish acts only raise a storm.

Love needs work from both partners to grow.

Remember the proverb: "We reap what we sow."

 

***

 

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE

 

On the train that day he looked,

As he wrote in his autograph book,

"Roses are red, violets are blue.

Sugar is sweet, but not as sweet as you.

Years later, he stopped when he heard that song.

Thinking of him and wondering what went wrong.

He left the world, and she wondered aloud.

What would have happened if he had not gone abroad?

They were high school kids when they met on the train.

She remembered the day they ran from the rain.

They traveled in groups and glimpsed each other.

On graduation day, he received his love letter.

He was going abroad to continue his education.

He wished that she could join him there on a vacation.

But she had other plans and tore up her letter.

He embarked on a lucrative career and a bright future.

He didn't give up and came back when he was qualified.

To her surprise, he proposed to her and she was mortified.

She was already engaged to be married and it broke her heart.

When she told him, he saw it in her eyes as she broke down.

Years later he saw her again with his wife.

He said he wanted to tell her everything about his life.

After spending more than an hour in his office talking.

She politely told him that she had another appointment waiting.

 

***

 

PASSION

 

Passion is a strong and uncontrollable emotion.

It is described as a very strong inclination,

Towards an activity that you love and are attracted to.

You can be passionate in everything you do.

Passion is usually related to a romantic feeling.

Strong emotions of love can make you reel.

When feelings for someone become very intense.

Obsessive passion can infuriate you.

For me, a loving home is the number one priority.

Success would mean nothing without family.

Literature and travel also fill me with passion.

So too, music and art give me fuel for action.

The love and passion that Christ felt for humanity,

He made him suffer and die so enormously.

There are numerous ways to describe passion.

It is an impulse to do what you love with a solid conviction.

 

***

 

A FUN RITUAL

 

It's a family fun ritual every sunrise,

As you wake up to the birdsong outside.

The swaying of the branches in the breeze,

That miserable alarm clock does not please.

You run downstairs to the kitchen sink,

For water to prepare your favorite morning drink.

The addictive smell opens your eyes to a new day.

A brimming cup makes you happy and joyful.

Without it, you cannot survive the tasks of the day,

At a time when you are required to wear masks.

Every sip adds energy to everything you do.

People all over the world also love that drink.

 

***

 

DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY OTHERS

 

Some people are easily fooled by the opinions of others.

Unable to think for themselves, they cause more trouble.

They blindly follow others and do everything they say.

Without verifying facts, for falsehoods, they fall prey.

Peace begins with each one of us and our behavior.

First, do everything you can to help solve the problem.

Be brave, stand up for the truth. and not constant friction.

Walk away if something doesn't seem right in a situation.

Listening to falsehoods and tolerating wrongdoing,

It will cause breaks in relationships and bad interactions.

God blessed each of us with a mind of our own.

We will have to answer to him on the throne of judgment.

 

***

 

LET'S MAKE A BETTER WORLD

 

Crime, abuse, environmental pollution,

Lack of love for our brothers and sisters,

Selfishness, anger, jealousy and greed,

It will continue to produce bad seed.

Elimination of these contaminants must be our goal.

In our ultimate goal of making a better world.

The change must start with each one of us.

It must start deep in our hearts.

Parents should take the leadership role,

Our children are the future of the world.

Guide them on the right path.

And protect them from straying.

 

*Copyright @Brenda Mohamed

 

 

Humankind's greatest desire is to live forever

 

HE IS THE ONE: A BOOK FOR END TIMES.

I am sharing a five-star book review by Timothy Payton.

Thank you, Timothy Payton.

"My review of HE IS THE ONE "A Book For End Times" By Author Brenda Mohammed

When I found out Brenda Mohammed was promoting this book HE IS THE ONE while I was reading her posts on Facebook, and about what it was pertaining to, I had to get this book!!

Once I received this book I was extremely excited to begin reading it and I must admit I was not disappointed after finishing this!!

Brenda touches upon so many things concerning not only the end times, that we are living in, but also scriptures throughout this blessed book for the reader to cross-reference and meditate on the True Word.

Without giving too much away on what this book is about, I can give you some insight and examples you can expect when reading HE IS THE ONE.

Some of the examples you'll read in this book are:

Brenda writes about God's covenants and the Birth of Jesus, Jesus' ministry, and His parables, and there's a chapter on "Is there an afterlife"? The Book of Revolution, God's Plan for man, and creating a peaceful world.

In the introduction of the book, Brenda quotes John 10: 8-10 "I am the bread of life, I have the words of eternal life, whoever finds me finds life, whoever believes in me has eternal life, and whoever believes in me his name will be written down in the Lamb's Book of Life"

Humankind's greatest desire is to live forever. God is offering this to all on a platter.

As you continue on, it rolls into how one can learn, and also have Jesus come into your heart and have you become saved and develop a personal relationship with Him.

I definitely can tell The Great Lord was working through Brenda, as she was writing this book and speaking through her on how to help the reader follow the truth that she was expressing. For example, those that are familiar with scripture and the Bible can really follow along easily with what she's expressing.

Also if one isn't too familiar, Brenda gives simple step-by-step explanations of the gospel and teachings so you can really get a grip and understanding of what Jesus did and learn some great and insightful knowledge along the way.

As you read HE IS THE ONE you should have a Bible handy so you can cross-reference the scriptures that are on the pages and not only follow along but also meditate and apply the scriptures to your life, which you feel may speak to you as well.

One of the chapters in HE IS THE ONE that may be short, yet was really an emotional read, was the chapter, "Jesus condemned" where Brenda gives you such a surreal reading on what it was like for Jesus before his crucifixion and gives an emotional explanation for the reader.

Brenda also blesses the readers at the end of HE IS THE ONE with some great and blessed Poems to read.

There's a great quote that is included in a title of a poem, that really spoke to me, and one should include and practice in their life, I wrote it down for me to meditate on every day which is "Those who put everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything" by Ron Nelson Jr.

I highly recommend HE IS THE ONE for everyone that is a believer, as well as those wanting to know about the days we are living in and what's to come,

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!.

I give this a 5 Star rating.

Brenda did a great job of delivering a great Book for the times we are all living.

With Much Love and God's Blessings

Timothy Payton, USA

Get your copy today from Amazon and from these Links below:

US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VYJFSS7

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/HE-ONE-Book-End.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

INDIA https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09VYJFSS7

AUSTRALIA https://www.amazon.com.au/HE-ONE-Book-End.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/HE-ONE-Book-End-Times.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

SPAIN https://www.amazon.es/dp/B09VYJFSS7

ITALY https://www.amazon.it/HE-ONE-Book-Times.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

FRANCE https://www.amazon.fr/HE-ONE-Book-Times.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

MEXICO https://www.amazon.com.mx/HE-ONE-Book-Times.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

BRAZIL https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B09VYJFSS7

NETHERLANDS https://www.amazon.nl/HE-ONE-Book-Times.../dp/B09VYJFSS7

DRAFT2DIGITAL https://books2read.com/u/bMYg6X