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[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
March 24th, 2026
(Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa)
Interview about the poem, "Who Am I?," with poet, Carolyn Miller. The poem is published in South Africa Poetry Magazine.
"Who Am I?" is representing South Africa in the Poetry World Cup 2026.
Photo of Carolyn Miller
What are some interesting or important aspects of this work, how it came to be, or what it means, that you want people to know?
This poem has a very deep seated emotion for me, that I was finally able to express, out in the open by putting it into words. A long cycle of being in a toxic industry for many years with harmful people, made me realise that, as I am, being AuADHD, I had masked my entire career and had absolutely no idea what I wanted to be or do. It was an epiphany, albeit a rather sad one. Whilst sitting on my patio one evening, contemplating this illusion of life I had just left, I saw a pupae that had not quite made it out of the cocoon and subsequently, had died. It then hit me that this was me, I had survived this life but not in my full form of metamorphosis. I started to write and when next I looked, the poem was done. Re-reading the words gave me clarity. I made many different decisions after that, which lead me down a more authentic path for myself.
How does your city / region and your natural surroundings influence this creative work, and your artistic practice as a whole?
I live in, arguably, one of the most beautiful places in the world, Hermanus, South Africa. We take our dogs for walks on the beach and in the mountains every day and every day, I remind myself that I am extremely lucky to call this place, home. I find stillness in listening and smelling the ocean. The water here is cold so when I go for dips, it clears my mind of fuzz and helps me to reset. My poems are centred around politics and woman's rights, so this place definitely helps to ground me.
Keywords: AuADHD, pupae, ephiphany, metamorphosis, strings, chisel, encore, bleeding, ghost
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