Good things happen when you take the first step! It’s the first time Carolyn Miller has ever entered a competition and shared her writing publicly…her words have made it all the way to the Poetry World Cup!
Hermanus, South Africa (23 January 2026) – The Poetry World Cup hosted by Wax Poetry is an international celebration of poetry.
The most-read poems from ten different countries published on the Wax Poetry and Art Network make it to the Top 10. Hermanus-based poet Carolyn Miller’s poem Who Am I? has made the list!
Carolyn represents South Africa amongst poets from Ireland, Canada, Türkiye, United States, Scotland, Portugal, India, Italy, and Nigeria.
In May, later this year, once the reading period has closed, one country will take the official title of Poetry World Cup Champion.
The more eyes on Miller’s words, the better chance she has at scooping the title for South Africa.
Carolyn says it’s her first time ever sharing her work publicly, let alone entering a competition for her writing. She’d been writing since high school but stopped in her 30s and only really picked it up again two years ago.
Claiming her spot in the Top 10 was a surprise.
“It still feels surreal and unbelievable. I was shocked when I received the email. It was never on my radar to even consider that the poem would be of any good,” shares Carolyn. “Because it’s chosen by readers, I’m left speechless that people have felt the words. For a person who uses words to express their feelings, this is the best validation that what you are doing means something.”
Carolyn’s World Cup-worthy poem is inspired by deep feelings. Fear, anger and loss. The words came around at a time of struggle.
“I was in a rather dark place, mentally, in 2024. This was written in the earlier half. I had just left a job that was extremely stressful and toxic, I had lost much of my self-belief and confidence. I was sitting outside on our stoep, glass of wine in hand, when I looked at our braai place and saw a butterfly chrysalis with the butterfly half emerged but had died before it could re-enter the world. That made me so sad but there was also a deep resonance. So, I started to write and the poem Who Am I? was revealed.” she shares.
If you want to read Carolyn’s poem, follow this link.
“Growing up as a teenager in the ‘90’s gave me many opportunities to write about the political maelstrom, and anger towards how people were being treated. As does today’s politics. That is mostly with my poems, as well as my mental health expression.”
Beyond her poetry, Carolyn is working on a fantasy book for young adults centred on navigating neurodiversity in a neurotypical-leaning world. The hope is for it to grow into a series.
“It’s about Rowan Redferne, a teenage girl who is on the spectrum and has super powers without realising it, which, of course, eventually is revealed,” says Caroyln.
With the world cup for words still ahead of her, Carolyn’s already won the race, proving that it’s never too late to take a chance on yourself and your gifts. Sharing them makes the world a better place.
“If my words can sit with someone, make them think, question, or feel less alone, then being seen in this way is more than I could have hoped for.”
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