After blowing away crowds at this year’s Umtiza Festival and her school’s talent show, a grade 10 Clarendon pupil has added another accolade to her creative achievements after her poem was published in the Vrij & Karuna Harry Young Writers Anthology last week.
Seventeen-year-old Simone Williams submitted several poems that explored deep social and emotional themes.
One of them, titled bluntly Death, was selected for publication in the anthology, which features more than 70 short stories, essays, and poems from young writers across East London.
Williams said: “I’m ecstatic! Last year, I missed the deadline because I didn’t finish filling in the entry form.
“This year, I made sure I submitted everything — and I’m so glad I did.”
Her four poems are:
A Mother’s Cry — written from the perspective of a single mother confronting injustice and hardship;
Death — a reflective piece portraying the death of a friend, inspired by Abina Sign Graves’ book Death’s Obsession.
Venomous Love — about lovers whose affection turns toxic; and
Plastic Lens — a piece on the pressures of teenage life and the struggle to maintain authenticity amid social media expectations.
“I didn’t think Death would end up in the book. But people really connected with it, and the feedback made me realise I can write — even though I sometimes doubt myself.”
While Williams is passionate about writing, her first love has always been music.
In 2024, she placed third in “Clarie’s Got Talent”, where she performed Wildflower by Billie Eilish and won the crowd favourite title.
Her musical talent later earned her a spot performing as an opening act for local Afro-jazz musician Sasa Jobodwana at the Umtiza Festival.
“This experience has truly inspired me to keep writing,” she said. “Even though music is my strongest talent, writing will always be a part of me.”
