On June 2, retired schoolteacher and lover of languages Safiya Baksh-Hosein launched two books of poems, one written in English and the other in Spanish.

Dreams of Love is about the poet's life as she relates to nature, her relationships, love, romance, society and the essence that connects a person to their environment as a spiritual, emotional and physical being.

Poemas Del Corazon has all those elements of Dreams, with the difference being it is written in Spanish, and as stated by the Ambassador of the Boliviaron Republic of Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, Eugenia Maria Marcano Casado, who was the special guest at the launch, "Safiya wrote as if her thoughts were in Spanish. This is an incredible achievement."

Also present were legendary historian and author Michael Anthony; Poet Laureate of the City of Port of Spain Anson Gonzalez and his wife; Artist Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) vice-president Sheldon Manoo; Dr Margaret Rouse-Jones, former librarian at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Library; Circle of Poets president Nicholas Sosa; Writers Union president Kasi Senghor; president of the Poet Society and ROOTS Mtima Solwaz; former president of the Writers Union Van Stewart; and Rachel Collymore, founder of Poetic Vibes, the producers of Synergia, which fuses poetry, jazz and visual art.

This was a monumental and historic book launch and an appropriate gift to the nation from a talented daughter of the soil. This is a must-have for all literary enthusiasts, as well as those who are interested in Spanish.

Safiya also writes in French and Hindustani and hopes to publish two more books in those languages, plus more in Spanish and English, and possibly, the four languages combined. Contact the author at 748-5233 to obtain your copies of the books.