by Shivanee Ramlochan, Paper Based Blogger

Copies of Tessa Pascall’s first poetry collection, Through the Eyes of Innocence, with the book launch’s program.

On December 3rd, at the Normandie Hotel in St. Ann’s, Tessa Pascall launched her first collection of poems. Edited by President of the Artists Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago, Rubadiri Victor, the book contains poems from Pascall’s teenage years. It charts the progress and development of her thoughts from adolescence into young adulthood, with the poems featured in chronologically ascending order. In the collection’s preface, Pascall describes poetry as her primary method of self-expression, noting that the work is reflective of her “thoughts and feelings about things that were taking place in my home, my community and the wider society.”

Ms. Pascall, who is visually impaired, has been writing poetry for several years. She works as a research adviser and assistant in the Disabilities Affairs Unit of the Ministry of the People and Social Development. Specifically scheduled for December 3rd, the date of her book launch was doubly significant, as it marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

At the ceremony, Tessa’s collection was highly praised by journalist and book reviewer, Angela Pidduck, who praised the poems for their beauty, adding that they are a testament to Pascall’s comprehensive grasp of life and the intricacies of Trinbagonian identity.

Paper Based is proud to be the official affiliate bookseller for this event. Copies of Through the Eyes of Innocence are available at the shop, and would make splendid Christmas presents for:

• young fledgling poets seeking inspiration for their first set of verses;
• those who favour crisp, clean structures and rhyming schemes in their poetry reading;
• primary school teachers who want to stock up on educational leisure reading for their pupils!

Tessa Pascall recites some of her poems, assisted by Mr. Kirk Noel, while mistress of ceremonies, Ms. Rosemary Hezekiah, looks on.

Tessa autographs a copy of Through the Eyes of Innocence for a guest, following her reading.