Carolyn Mary Kleefeld | Poet

Iconic American Poet

Words are Doors Themselves

Carolyn is considered an artistic force within a large community, and especially in Big Sur. Her books of poetry reveal romantic and erotic ideals, conveyed in vivid metaphor and interspersed with her beautifully inspiring art. Carolyn captures a unique part of the human experience within her twenty-five published books, bridging the personal to the universal. Her books transform fear into conscious creation, re-vitalize imagination, and renew a sense of wonder, romance and innocence, addressing a broad range of universal themes, such as human nature, the cycles of life, love and intimacy, spiritual transformation and a pantheistic relationship to the natural world.

Carolyn’s many books of poetry have been included in university courses devoted to the exploration of the works of contemporary poets, and specifically acclaimed women writers. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Pen Society Award and the World Poetry Empowered Poet Award from the World Poetry Reading Series Society. She has given poetry readings at the Dylan Thomas Theater in Swansea, Wales, the Free Word Centre in London, England, The Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, CA, and many other venues in California.

Carolyn Mary Kleefeld | Poet: Selected Poetry

Carolyn has several collections of poetry featured in many of her books. Below is a selection of her poems. Click on any poem to view in high resolution, and you can explore more of her poetry featured in her books using the button below.

Carolyn Mary Kleefeld | Author: Awards & Bibliography

Carolyn’s passion for creative experimentation and a lifelong fascination with spiritual transformation has led to her recognition as an award-winning poet and writer.

Explore Carolyn’s many awards, honors and publication articles.

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Selected Awards and Honors

Remembering Vince Clemente, edited by Peter Thabit Jones / The Seventh Quarry Press / Wales

Carolyn’s poem Mysteries of Big Sur was published in this anthology in honor of Vince Clemente — 2021

Seoul National University USA Alumni News / Seoul National University Alumni Association / USA

Carolyn’s poems Obeisance to the Moment and Here I Find You were published in this bilingual Korean/English anthology — 2019-2021

Miju Poetry and Poetics / Korean Poets Society of America, Volume 12 / USA

Carolyn’s poem Nothing Stops the Eternal was published in this bilingual Korean/English anthology — 2020.

What Have You Lost–Found, Edited by Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan

Carolyn’s poems Faith, Hail Spring, and Traveling New Worlds were published in this Anthology — 2020.

Birds: A Flight of Poems, Edited by Joan Digby / The Feral Press / Penhensile Pencil Publications / Oyster Bay, New York

A selection of Carolyn’s poems, were published annually in this anthology of poetry on birds by Chinese and English-speaking poets from around the world — 2018.

Voices Israel: Poetry from Israel and Abroad / Jerusalem, Israel

A selection of Carolyn’s poems, were published in this anthology of poets from around the world in the years from — 2011-2017.

Toyo University Alumni Association Journal, No. 262 / Tokyo, Japan

Professor Yasuko Miura, professor emeritus, published a review of the Japanese/English bilingual edition of Soul Seeds: Revelations and Drawings — 2015.

World Poetry Empowered Poet Award / Vancouver, Canada

World Poetry Canada International presented a special peace certificate to Carolyn in appreciation of her poetry for peace, which was displayed at the Irving Barber Learning Centre, the Library at the University of British Columbia where library staff mentioned that 100,000 students and visitors attended. In addition, Carolyn’s books were on display at the UBC Exchange Learning Center and at the Britannia Public Library in Vancouver BC, Canada — 2014.

Il Meleto Di Guido Gozanno Award for Poetry / Torino, Italy

Carolyn’s poem, In the Midst of Mystery received honorable mention and was the only poem selected from the United States in this international poetry contest — 2014.

Nomination for Pushcart Prize

Carolyn’s poems, The Kiss from the Seventh Quarry Swansea Poetry Magazine, The Unnamable from the Immagine & Poesia Journal, and Here I Find You from Bridging the Waters: An International Poetry Anthology were nominated for the Pushcart Prize — 2013.

Bridging the Waters: An International Bilingual Poetry Anthology / South Korea / USA

A selection of Carolyn’s poems, were translated into Korean and published in this anthology — 2013.

Spring Poetry Rain / Cyprus

A selection of Carolyn’s poems were among 300 poems raining over Cyprus as part of an event, Spring Poetry Rain, hosted by a coalition of international poets to promote peace and unity in that divided city and across the world — 2012.

Nomination for Pushcart Prize

Carolyn’s poem, Offering Herself to the Mystery from Psyche of Mirrors: A Promenade of Portraits was nominated for the Pushcart Prize — 2012.

Nomination for Pushcart Prize

Carolyn’s poem, Crushed into Glass, from Chapbook Poet To Poet #4 and “Within the Seed of Love” from The Seventh Quarry Swansea Poetry Magazine (summer issue) were nominated for the Pushcart Prize — 2011.

Immagine & Poesia / Torino, Italy

Carolyn was invited to participate in this international art/literary movement, founded in Torino, Italy — 2007-2011.

Interview with Peter Thabit Jones / Swansea University / Wales

Carolyn was interviewed by Peter Thabit Jones, Professor at Swansea University in Wales. The interview appeared in The Seventh Quarry Swansea Poetry Magazine and was translated into Romanian and published in the Romanian Journal, Convorbiri Literare — 2010.

Swansea University / Wales

Welsh poet and professor, Peter Thabit Jones, will use Carolyn’s book, The Nanose, which she hand-wrote and illustrated at the age of 9, in his class at Swansea University, Writing Children’s Literature, to show to his students the way the young, creative mind works. He also is gong to use the book in his course, The Other Half of the Sky: Eight Women Writers, to show the growth in a writer’s vision from childhood to adult — 2010.

Swansea University / Wales

Welsh poet and professor, Peter Thabit Jones is including Carolyn’s books in a continuing course he is teaching at the university. The course, entitled, The Other Half of the Sky: Eight Women Writers, will enable students to explore the poetry and prose of eight woman authors, including, along with Carolyn, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Maya Angelou, and Aeronway Thomas, daughter of Dylan Thomas. The course, its title inspired by John Lennon’s Woman, will consider the writings of the eight authors in the context of the historical development of women’s writing and its growing cultural and social importance — 2010 and ongoing.

Long Island Sounds: An Anthology of Poetry / Long Island, New York

A selection of Carolyn’s poems were accepted for the anthology, Long Island Sounds 2010: An Anthology of Poetry from Maspeth to Montauk and Beyond — 2010.

Nomination for Pushcart Prize / Vagabond Dawns

Carolyn’s poem, I Found My Soul, nomination — 2009.

Swansea University / Wales

Professor Peter Thabit Jones is incorporating Carolyn’s poetry and that of David Wayne Dunn in his course, Poets and Poetry. This course teaches the full craft of poetry, considers major poets and poetry movements, and include a section called Poets Live, where students study audio recordings and videos of poets (including poets such as Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes and Dylan Thomas) — 2009.

Nomination for Pushcart Prize / Soul Seeds: Revelations & Drawings

The chapter, Dimensional Perspectives, was nominated — 2009.

Guest Eulogist / Allen Ginsberg Memorial Service / Wadsworth Theater / Los Angeles, CA — 1997

Guest Speaker / Albert Hoffman Foundation / Asilomar Conference Center / Pacific Grove, CA — 1995

Guest Speaker / UCLA & UCSC / Los Angeles, CA / Santa Cruz, CA

Carolyn was a guest speaker on panels at UCLA and UCSC after publication of Mavericks of the Mind: Conversations for the New Millennium with such speakers as Dr. Timothy Leary, Dr. John Lily and Laura Archera Huxley — 1993.

Bibliography

Poems and Paintings / The Seventh Quarry Poetry Magazine / Wales

A selection of Carolyn’s poems and paintings were published in this poetry journal biannually from 2009—2021.

Poetry and Art / Immagine & Poesia, Volume 3 / e-book

A selection of Carolyn’s poems were published annually from in this anthology of poets and artists from around the world from 2014—2021.

Book Review / The Seventh Quarry Poetry Magazine / Wales

Poet Jean Salkilld wrote a review of The Divine Kiss — Winter/Spring 2015.

Poetry / Cyclamens and Swords Literary Journal / Israel

A selection of Carolyn’s poems were published annually from 2012—2015.

Poetry / Confesiuni / Romania

A selection of Carolyn’s poems and aphorisms were translated by Dr. Olimpia Iacob into Romanian and published in this literary journal in 2013 — 2014.

Poetry / Convorbiri Literare / Romania

A selection of Carolyn’s poems, were translated into Romanian by Dr. Olimpia Iacob and published in this major Romanian literary journal, established in March of 1867, in July 2010 and July 2014.

Aphorisms / Confesiuni / Romania

A chapter from Soul Seeds: Revelations and Drawings was translated into Romanian by Dr. Olimpia Iacob and published in this literary journal — June 2013.

Article / Monterey County Weekly / Monterey, CA

Let’s Get Lit by Walter Ryce was published to highlight the launch at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, CA of Psyche of Mirrors: A Promenade of Portraits — June 2012.

Poetry / Citadela / Romania

A selection of Carolyn’s poems were translated into Romanian by Dr. Olimpia Iacob and published in this literary journal — 2012.

Poetry / Aldous Huxley Annual / Muenster, Germany

The Centre for Aldous Huxley Studies printed a poem by Carolyn, and two of her paintings in the this publication — 2011.

Book Review / The Pedestal Magazine

The magazine published a review by JoSelle Vanderhooft of Vagabond Dawns — 2010.

Book Review / The Seventh Quarry Swansea Poetry Magazine / Wales

Peter Thabit Jones wrote a review of the book, Vagabond Dawns and a selection of Carolyn’s poems were published — Winter 2010.

Poetry / Nord Literar / Romania

A selection of Carolyn’s poems were translated into Romanian by Dr. Olimpia Iacob and published in this literary journal — 2010.

Aphorisms / Poesis / Romania

A selection of aphorisms from Soul Seeds: Revelations and Drawings was translated into Romanian by Dr. Olimpia Iacob and published in this literary journal — 2010.

Poetry / Korean Ex-Patriot Literature Journal / Korea

As another contribution to what Professor Peter Thabit Jones calls “the international bridge of poets,” a Korean translation of Carolyn’s poetry appeared in the Korean Ex-patriot Literature Journal — 2010.

Poetry / The Homestead Review / Harnell College / Salinas, CA

Carolyn’s poetry was chosen to be included for the spring issue — 2010.

Article / Monterey County Weekly / Monterey, CA

Big Sur Carolyn Mary Kleefeld Expands Her Churning Catalog of Poetry & Art with Vagabond Dawns was published — 2009.

Interview / Carmel Pine Cone / Carmel, CA

Chris Counts interviewed Carolyn about her most recently published book, Vagabond Dawns, for the article titled, On a Big Sur Mountain, Poet Finds Creative Voice — 2009.

Book Review / Salinas Californian / Salinas, CA

Robert Walsh wrote a review of Vagabond Dawns — 2009.

Interview / Evolve! Magazine / Atlanta, GA

An interview of Carolyn appeared in the holiday issue of Evolve!, a publication of New Leaf Publishing and Distributing — 2009.

Book Forward / Duet for One / Random House

Carolyn wrote the introduction for this book by Dr. Donald Parker — 2000.

Book Review / Whole Life Times / Los Angeles, CA

Review by John Charnay of The Alchemy of Possibility: Reinventing Your Personal Mythology — 2000.

Book Review / The New Times

Review by Peggy Cavin-Smith of The Alchemy of Possibility: Reinventing Your Personal Mythology — 1999.

Article / Santa Barbara News Press / Santa Barbara, CA

Marina Walker wrote, Riding the Spiritual Riptide, about The Alchemy of Possibility: Reinventing Your Personal Mythology — 1999.

Review / Llewellyn New Times

Dave Dix reviewed both Satan Sleeps with the Holy: Word Paintings and The Alchemy of Possibility: Reinventing Your Personal Mythology in Poetry from the Edge of the Universe — 1983.

Article / Sacramento Union / Sacramento, CA

Catherine Fehr wrote Poet Travels Through Climates of the Mind — 1983.

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〝The themes of my poems are in continual flux, as my living is. Over time I think I have become more involved with the music and rhythm of poetry and the lyrical aspect of my poems has become more developed.〞

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