POET PROFILE: Collen Thabo Molahlehi

Collen Thabo Molahlehi is a South African poet, writer, and artist from the North West province. He is currently based in Johannesburg, where he is pursuing his engineering degree at the University of
Johannesburg. His interest in poetry can be attributed to his former English high school teacher who introduced him to poetry through the works of John Milton and William Blake. His poetry mostly delves into the themes of love, loss, healing and mental health. His poetry has been featured in five anthologies, published across South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

He has also won third place in the 2021 AVBOB mini-poetry competition themed: “A song
for survivors: Poems of comfort marking a year of lockdown” and he once again won third place in the 2024 AVBOB mini-poetry competition themed: “Three Ways to Look at a Person” His poetry aims to provide solace to readers by addressing themes often deemed as uncomfortable to write about. He continues to gain recognition within South Africa’s literary community and internationally and he is set to publish his debut poetry collection soon.

His published works include:

• On the Edge and A Poet’s Prayer (AVBOB Poetry website, South Africa, 2019 and 2020)
• Artist featured in Letting in the Light: A Mental Wellness Anthology (Chasing Dreams Publishing in association with Pick Me Up Poetry, South Africa, 2021)
• Time (Third place, AVBOB Mini-Poetry Competition, South Africa, 2021)
• When You Chose to Leave, Her, Death and These Walls, and the short story Trapped (Papers Publishing, USA, 2022)
• Under My Skin, Our Love, Grief, Seesaw, The First of September, and Beneath Your Feet (Poetry Potion, South Africa, 2022)
• Imposter Syndrome and Doubt featured in Mental Health (Edited by Robin Barratt, United Kingdom, 2022)
• Anchored Roots (Notepad Poetry, South Africa, Emalahleni, 2023)
• Vows, Your Dance, and See It Through! featured in Shadows of the Soul (True North Writers Group, New York, USA, 2023)
• The Rumors Are True, Wreckage, and Turbulence featured in Inscribed Reveries (True North Writers Group, New York, USA, 2024)
• Remember Who You Are! (Third place, AVBOB Mini-Poetry Competition, South Africa, 2024)
• For he has not lived long enough, Oh! What a shame, (Poetry Potion, South Africa, 2024)
• Why did it have to be you? The day you lost your glow, It is in our home featured in Shattered Reflections (True North Writers Group, New York, USA, 2025)

Get up and fight, (Poetry Potion, South Africa, 2025