Triple-award-winning young writer uses “cherished hobby” for emotional therapy

By Michael Jordan

“I never expected time to crawl so slowly, nor to feel the things I felt. With half-closed eyes, I clung to the cold, rusted railing of the lighthouse and peered out into the void…” (The Lighthouse at the Bottom of The Sea)
Welcome to the surreal world of Samir Mohamed, a 19-year-old with a keen interest in physics, but with a talent for poetry and fiction.
Just a few weeks ago, Samir won The Guyana Prize For Literature (Youth Category) award for his short story, ‘The Lighthouse At The Bottom Of The Sea.’
Last year, Samir also swept the Guyana Prize For Literature (2022) awards (Youth category, male) with his poem “Blood and Oil”, and short story, “So Does It Stare Back.”

That’s a rather astounding accomplishment for someone who’s pursuing an associate degree in physics, and who describes writing as “a hobby.”
“I’m ecstatic that my writing could incite such reverence and respect within the expertise of the judging panel,” Samir told Guyana Times. “My ‘talent’, of which I was not even confident, being praised to such a degree is honestly astounding. Nevertheless, I’m excited about the prospects and future possibilities. It feels incredible to receive such recognition and admiration.
“Writing as a hobby does not diminish its value to me. It is a cherished hobby, and my ambition as a writer is parallel to my ambitions as a scientist and artist,” Samir explained.
He said he spent “hours every day” perfecting his award-winning submission. “I prefer taking my time writing, preferring to master every detail and intricacy. I am a slow, methodical writer.
In between my studies and classes, I am able to squeeze in some time to write. It is therapeutic to me, so it is natural for me to start and continue writing where I left off.”
While he has shared his literary attempts with only a few individuals, Samir said, his father and his girlfriend have always been supportive. His poems and stories are dark and unsettling in tone, and Samir reveals that they reflect mental turmoil with which he’s had to grapple on occasion. Writing, he says, is an attempt to analyze and cope with these emotions.
“My poems reflect my psyche, and are a way for me to learn about both myself and life through my characters. ‘The Lighthouse at the Bottom of the Sea’ is a story of isolation, grief and redemption. It takes the reader through the eyes of the protagonist, grappling with intense loneliness and loss from being stranded on an island with the goal of manning a lighthouse.
“The story was an experiment in self-reflection much like my previous winning piece. It came about when I was taking a very long trip back home when I saw a lighthouse in the distance. To be honest, at the time I was so tired that it might have been a hallucination. It was a stressful and painful period in my life,” Samir disclosed.
“The lighthouse was similar to how I was, in a sort of static, purgatory-like state: just the silence, the howling winds in my ear and the cold night skies. I reached inside of myself and channelled that longing; that aching feeling for something more,” he said.
“The story is the brainchild of darkness, light, and the human condition. Often times we find ourselves searching outside for our salvation and peace, when we should really be looking inside. Much like the vast ocean in the dead of night, hope is our lighthouse amongst the emptiness.
“Undoubtedly, (writing) that story helped to strengthen me as well as helped me understand myself and the things I was feeling. Writing has been paramount in helping me to understand both my situation and myself. It has helped to navigate my struggles by making them more tangible,” Samir explained.
His greatest literary inspiration is the late poet and novelist Sylvia Plath, who is credited for pioneering the exploration of once-taboo subjects such as sexuality, suicide and trauma.
While he seeks to attract the attention of international publishers, some of his poems are available online at Samir Mohammed – Hello Poetry.”
He’s also been interacting with other local and international writers through forums.
At present, he’s engrossed in his “passion project” — a novel called “Dark Matters” —which explores artificial intelligence, humanity, philosophy, and astronomy.
“It has been a slow road, but I’m eager to polish it to its full potential. This is intended to be my first published piece,” Samir disclosed.
His advice to others with literary ambitions is to “never stop writing. Be free and open to express yourself on paper, on a Word document or in a private WhatsApp chat whenever you feel the impulse. Make a regular schedule or take up a project such as a short story or a long poem and get advice from mentors, friends, family, or teachers. Go with your gut, and read works by well-renowned writers and artists. Don’t be afraid to get creative.”