Hope

I must give a round of applause to Lance Aqui for producing such a wide variety of poems with equally varying themes, all the while keeping true to the book’s main theme of ‘Hope’ so beautifully.This excellent piece of work contained a myriad of literary devices and styles to convey the wide variety of poems, and their associated themes. I personally loved the use of: storytelling, prose, and consecutive line rhyming.“Hope” carries the reader on a journey, that highlights crucial points in a person’s life that are necessary for self-growth. Some of which that stood out to me were: self-acceptance, self-identification, making and living with choices made, friendship, stepping outside of the comfort zone, and looking at life optimistically.Many key life lessons were brought to light as well, such as: rely on others, admit when you are wrong, change is inevitable, take a break (reset), respect yourself, walk away from abuse, cherish your friends, an apology comes in just three words, and only you can set yourself free of your own self fabricated prison.“Hope” can send a reader on a roller coaster of emotions all depending on the person’s life experiences, and perspectives. I can surely say for me that it had an uplifting, and eye-opening effect; however, some pieces can make one’s heart ache by the raw truth of mental slavery, self-imprisonment, and relationship abuse.I absolutely enjoyed the pieces where environmental awareness, and Trinbagonian culture were illustrated, these were: Beautiful Buccoo Reef, The Majestic Leatherback Turtle, and Eight World Wonder.I also found two poems in particular to be quite comical and light-hearted which I enjoyed fully; Once Upon a Time, and Dessert With The Desert Derby Deserters (quite a tongue-tie when said aloud…..it left me in a fit of giggles).In my perspective most of the poems had one direct meaning however, a few pieces did intrigue me with their possible double meanings. These were the Superstar, The Colony, and Pay Cheque. I believe that these could have a double meaning if read between the lines.Overall, reading this book was a great experience. Upon completion of “Hope” I felt enlightened, empowered, lighthearted, and carefree. I had a wonderful time reading “Hope” while being reminded of the important things in my life. I did not particularly need “Hope” when I began reading this but it definitely gave me a boost, and I hope that it does the same for others.

An excellent piece of literature that captures the essence of the Caribbean. With each poem that is written, you are able to connect with the author and his thoughts and bring up warm memories of the past and "HOPE" for the future.When I began reading this book it started with curiosity but with each poem that I delve into I thought "ah here's someone I can relate to". Poems such as "have you ever, "mistakes" and "man in the mirror" truly resonated with me. I loved how the varying themes were easily relatable yet there were those like "frozen" and "the colony" that required you to sit back and analyze.What I appreciated most about this book was the awareness for Caribbean culture. The "buccoo reef" and "the leatherback turtle" shone the spotlight on Trinidad and Tobago. With the buccoo reef, one could have felt the pride the author had in describing this exquisite wonder!. Upon completion of this book, I felt enlightened and renewed with "HOPE" for what the future brings.

This is a book of poetry. It is quite lovely. The author has a way with words and puts his heart into each poem. It's a great book to have by my bed and remember what's important in life. My favorite poem is A Better Tomorrow. Also, not being a poetry reader, I do appreciate that most rhyme.

I have never written a review on Amazon for any product, but this book is worth changing that! The Author is truly gifted as the way he captures and expresses his thoughts is nothing short of phenomenal! Each time you read a poem it comes to life in a new way. If you want to take a trip to a different place without leaving your home, I suggest you dive deep into the pages of this masterpiece! An absolute must read!

Hope has been as exhilarating as I expected!A renewal of feelings and a breath of fresh air!My personal favorite - pages 39 through 42, as it is totally relatable and worded in perfectness.Definitely a must-read! it allows the reader to explore beyond the written.

Poetry expresses what it means to live in the world and in this collection of poems a display of talent was demonstrated where the author skilfully used his words for his readers to get a sense of experience and feeling,well done!

This is such a diverse collection of poems written in such descriptive, emotive language that it really connects readers to the thoughts, emotions, experiences and ideas expressed. Also contained within this literary gem are fun and inspiring tales of local Trinidad and Tobago culture.Just as it's title suggests, the connecting theme of Hope is felt throughout, harmoniously interweaving each beautifully worded expression.

Lance is such a creative and talented writer. His poems are a joy to read and the more you read his work, the deeper it gets. I love how many different aspects can be seen all in one poem, if you look closely. Alot of emotion, imagination and creativity was put into the book and I love it. Would definitely recommend!Makes for a great gift too :)