Books
Sonatina
published by Ibbetson Street Press
"In Johnmichael Simon's 'Sonatina', music is a multicolored skein of threads connecting past and future selves, as memories of childhood delights are interwoven with the humble and wise reflections of an older man making peace with mortality. Lost friends return as benign ghosts to bless the journey; even J.S. Bach himself makes an appearance to marvel at the modern narrator's stereo system. The poet's peaceful continuity with nature and tradition inspires hope that nothing precious is truly lost forever, even after the last notes of our individual voices fade".
Jendi Reiter, editor of Poetry Contest Insider published by
www. winningwriters.com. Recipient of numerous poetry awards,
author of ‘A Talent for Sadness’.
Go to Cyclamens and Swords Publishing to purchase this book
Bordwinot
published by Cyclamens and Swords Publishing
"A mix of ballads, balderdash and other strange ingredients. Johnmichael takes us on a fantasmagorical tour of the strange, the hilarious, the bawdy and the brilliant recesses of his poetic imagination. Entertaning and unputdownable stuff".
Andre von Grimenitch, columnist for 'ParaPoets Byways Magazine'.
Go to Cyclamens and Swords Publishing to purchase this book
Phyrrs Hierwals and Bouldergeists 
chapbook published by Assume Nothing Press
"Hilarious, whimsical, mystical, philosophical and crazy concoctions that will send
you off on an amazing trip into an uncertain universe. After 27 poems spanning
light years of reflections that leave you breathless, you'll want to read and explore
this wonderful little chapbook again and again".
Andre von Grimenitch, columnist for 'ParaPoets Byways Magazine'.
Go to Cyclamens and Swords Publishing to purchase this book
Cyclamens and Swords by Helen Bar-Lev and Johnmichael Simon
published by Ibbetson Street Press
75 pages with full color illustrations - original watercolor art by Helen Bar-Lev
"The achingly beautiful cover of timeless trees, earth, flowers and rock, is redolent of Israel’s destiny. This little land, so hallowed in human history, seems the literary and spiritual core of existence to most of humanity. If strife is ever-present here, how can there ever be the peace of ancient promise? This land seems to symbolize the eternal quest for harmony where forces of turmoil march ceaselessly.
Bar-Lev and Simon explore this theme for us.
Cyclamens and Swords will become a treasured classic, echoing as it does so fluently, the longing, fearing and questing that marks these
troubled times. Helen Bar-Lev’s poem Beauty sums up the reader’s
feelings as we reluctantly finish this special book: “and I,/the ingrate,
/ever insatiable,/implore you,/please,/ show/ me/more.”
Katherine L. Gordon, Author, Editor, Publisher, Judge and
Reviewer, Resident Columnist for Ancient Heart Magazine.
Go to Cyclamens and Swords Publishing to purchase this book