Saneil du Plessis, a poet from Reiger Park, has released her debut poetry chapbook, Void Feeling, an emotional and deeply personal work that explores the complexities of human experience.
Writing under the pen name S.S Poetry (Saneil Shirley), the 31-year-old shares her journey from her childhood fascination with words to the cathartic expression of pain, loss and healing through free-verse poetry.
Reflecting on her early love of writing, Saneil recalls a vivid childhood memory.
“The first memory I have of writing a poem is when I saw a tiny crab walking on the beach. I was so impressed, I had to put it in words.”
Her passion for literature was nurtured by her father and grandfather, whose love for history and classic literature made her ‘a curious cat’.
“Their love for history, the mechanics of the human mind and classic literature played a huge part in me starting to write and wanting to immortalise my feelings and thoughts,” Saneil said.
She spent part of her childhood in the Netherlands, where reading became her solace.
“Reading, Cartoon Network and MTV were my best friends, and soon writing poems or short verses became second nature.”
However, upon returning to South Africa at the age of ten, Saneil faced challenges fitting in.
“I was misunderstood and, unfortunately, hid my passions to fit in. The bullying, which came not only from peers but also from family members, caused my self-esteem to plummet.
This affected my character and confused me.”
Yet, she found her way back to poetry.
“In my 20s, I started again, still with challenges and naysayers, but when the pandemic rolled in, with nothing better to do, S.S Poetry was born.
“I was determined to overcome the negativity that once silenced my creativity, and that is why I wrote Void Feeling.”
The turning point came when Saneil asked herself a profound question: “What is my purpose?” The answer for her was simple: “To inspire.”
Authentic
As she began documenting significant moments in her life – the hurt, the confusion, the love – she realised her writing could offer solace to others.
“I wanted to let someone know that they are not alone. Someone else is going through it as well.”
Void Feeling is a collection of free verse poetry, a style Saneil chose deliberately.
“This is free-verse poetry; a style that doesn’t follow traditional rhyme or meter patterns.
“Free verse is perfect for emotional expression, and that’s what Void Feeling is – an emotional expression, a true story straight from my heart,” she revealed.
Saneil said the book launch was a moment of fulfilment for her, as she witnessed the impact of her work firsthand.
“The most significant moment was when attendees thanked me for sharing my story and then shared their current challenges.
“They now feel they can heal, and it made me feel I had achieved what I set out to do. My purpose for that moment was fulfilled.”
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She expressed gratitude to her wife, who gave her the space to be her authentic self to create, cry, feel, and write freely, without judgment.
“My siblings were a listening ear when I wanted to give up, and my aunt has always been my biggest fan, coaxing me forward to live out my purpose.”
Looking ahead, Saneil is already working on her second book and plans to host future poetry reading sessions.
“I want to build a little S.S Poetry community that journeys through the human experience,” she said, noting that a novel might be in her future as well.
Void Feeling is more than a book; it is a reminder that healing is a journey, not a race.
As Saneil puts it, “It is okay to feel and heal. In the end, you will get over this mountain, and healing will come.”
Contact Saneil on 076 955 1877 or email: saneilduplessis80@gmail.comVoid Feeling is available on Amazon: https://linktr.ee/sspoetry.
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