A Mirror of Broken Reflections

– 21-year-old Lindener encourages self-discovery with first book

Words have been building up for Adriel Ndapunique Thompson, a 21-year-old poet from Linden, Region 10. From what he has seen and felt in his still-young life, he has chosen to craft a book from the parts of himself he has realised over the years, ultimately challenging people – especially men from his village – to look inward and do some serious self-introspection.
Speaking to this publication, he explained that he started working on the project in 2023.
He reread almost every piece he had ever written – over hundreds of pieces in total. At first, there were more than eight chapters, but he sifted through them, eventually shaping the book into four core chapters.

He spoke about challenges men in his community have been facing, reflecting on recent incidents of violence against women. This, he says, is partially what his book is concreted in – an attempt to shift the mindset of readers through means of introspection.
“Like, as you know, in Linden… I’m not proud of it, but recently lots of men have been hurting women. And to me, actions like these stem from when a person isn’t intact with their own emotions. They don’t take the time to deconstruct themselves, and they explode instead of handling it better.”

Targeting youth
Amidst this, he said his target audience is mainly young people. One of the main reasons he wrote the book was his own need to understand himself better and to deconstruct himself. “Even the name of the book, A Mirror of Broken Reflections, is basically that – understanding yourself,” he said.
He went further, explaining that much of the violence in society, whether directed at oneself or others, stems from a lack of self-expression and a limited understanding of one’s own thoughts and emotions. He said that people often act out or internalise feelings because they haven’t taken the time to reflect or process their inner experiences.
“It shows up in different ways – hurting yourself, suicide, hurting other people. The book is about helping people, especially men, to understand themselves, to manage their feelings, to understand the different sides of their identity,” he said.
He explained that this is also about the “shadow self”, a concept many young people aren’t exposed to.
“Even good people have a side that’s attracted to darkness. A side that, if you feel threatened, you might want to hurt. And most people don’t think about that until it already happens.”
Thompson admitted that compiling the book was one of the most challenging experiences of his creative journey, largely because it forced him to confront himself in ways he had never done before.

Challenging himself
“A major challenge was looking at myself in the mirror – no pun intended,” he said. “I had to face my insecurities, my traumas, and my relationship with my father. There were moments when I questioned if I wanted certain pieces to be seen at all. Some were just too personal. But going through all of that, deconstructing my own experiences, my thoughts, my emotions – it felt like therapy. It wasn’t just writing; it was reflecting, questioning, and understanding who I am. At first, I had so many chapters, so many pieces scattered across different themes. The challenge was to make it cohesive, to make it meaningful.”
Thompson emphasised that this structure was not just about organisation – it was a deliberate way to guide readers through the same process he went through himself.
“Each chapter represents a layer of self-discovery. Writing and organising it this way made me see the full spectrum of who I am. It’s messy, it’s raw, and it’s real. But that’s what makes it human. And I hope that by showing that, readers can start reflecting on their own lives too.”
Giving a glimpse into the structure of his book, Thompson explained the focus of each of the four chapters. “Light is the part of yourself that you’re proud of, the side you want to show the world – the achievements, the growth, the strengths. Shadow is the darker side – your insecurities, your negative tendencies, and the struggles you usually keep hidden. Psyche deals with the mind, your thoughts about society, social issues, and the world around you. And Heart focuses on love – relationships, connections, and the emotional lessons you carry,” he said.
He stressed that the book isn’t just about him – it’s about the reader, too. “One of the major takeaways is that journeying into my pieces is journeying into yourself. There’s a lot of positive growth from that. Most people don’t take the time to understand their thoughts. Breaking yourself down is hard, but it’s necessary.”
Thompson also spoke about the bigger picture of art in the Caribbean.
“Reading this book and understanding my experiences – I believe it will affect people positively in their own lives. A lot of local art doesn’t get the push it deserves. I’ve been writing for years, developing my craft. I truly believe I’m one of the more talented young people in the Caribbean. Give me a chance, support me, and I can show that Guyanese or Caribbean art is on the same level as the greats. We have our legends, our GOATs. And there are so many talented young people who, if given the push, could raise the bar so high that we’ll be recognised worldwide.”