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NEW TITLE    The Muse in the Suitcase by Helen Bar-Lev & Johnmichael  Simon IIlustrations - Helen Bar-Lev    REVIEWS Don't expect a gentle tour, or map and menu monotone of travel in this exciting work. This is an engaging book of leaving home, with all the dimensions of close observation and adventures of psyche, into personal and planetary history and condition. There is a sense of travel in past and future,... appreciation of nature is redolent...this love of place, sense of keen acknowledgement of Holy Land roots, is the traveler's torch throughout the book. Katherine L. Gordon, Poet, Publisher, Editor, Literary Critic       Price $18 includes shipping                                         Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book	If the sixties song "Moon River" filled you with wanderlust once upon your dreams, you'll love this enchanting book that shows we're never too old to set off to see the world. Unlike two young drifters of song, however, who survived on love and a pair of backpacks, this creative pair went fully loaded: pens, pencils, watercolours, brushes, notebooks, sketch pads, cameras. This magnificent book treats readers to tastes of Istanbul, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Holland, South Africa and more. Wanda Sue Parrott, Co-founder, Senior Poets Laureate Poetry Competition
NEW TITLE In Moonlight the Sky Will Slide by Katherine L. Gordon and Helen Bar-Lev IIlustrations - Helen Bar-Lev   A poetic conversation between Katherine L. Gordon, Canada and Helen Bar-Lev, Israel.  WHAT THE AUTHORS SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK Katherine: I want to say why I enjoyed working on IN MOONLIGHT THE SKY WILL SLIDE so much.  It is because a Celt and a Hebrew, two of the most ancient races out of Egypt, found each other as destined and wrote between lands where literature as we recognize it, had its most profound impact on world culture. It is very exciting to be two poets capturing the human condition far from each other geographically, but so close in spirit. Both of us love history, see the alternate universes informing us, speak to the hearts of people as they long to see. Helen’s art is the icing, it glistens all the pages and captures what we feel at yet another level. What a beautiful legacy for her and for me. The insights of artist and poet have bridged the continents, drawn many a dream and aspiration into the arc of human longing and endeavor. That we are all kindred, flames here. Moon, earth, all the mysteries of our planet, speak to all who listen. It is my hope that a commonality of blood and beauty is consummated in this book.              Price $10 includes shipping                                         Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book	Helen: Katherine and I first met face-to-face in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in August of 2006 in a restaurant called The Forbidden City, where Hamilton’s poets had gathered for a poetry reading.  Prior to that we had been having stimulating poetry exchanges and intellectual discussions for a year or so. In the course of our continued correspondence, our friendship deepened and a kinship of spirits became apparent.  And so, In Moonlight The Sky Will Slide was born. Compiling this book has been such a pleasure on many different and unexpected levels.   Given the bond between us, matching up poems was not at all difficult.  Doing the sketches, in which I tried, not in all, but in most, to combine elements from each of our poems, was challenging but also entertaining, though it may be difficult for the reader to spot this.  For example, the man and dog walking in Israel with the Lebanese mountains in the background, are about to approach a Canadian barn with silo.  Or the gothic portal in the midst of Israeli apple orchards.   My favourite is Leonardo’s flying machine serving as a modern airplane.
Cyclamens and Swords by Helen Bar-Lev and Johnmichael Simon 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. Price $22 includes shipping                                         Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book
Snowflakes, Scimitars and Hearts All the prizewinning poems from the 2009 Cyclamens and Swords Publishing poetry contest. Price $5 includes shipping                                         Go to the Payments page to purchase this book
Grook-a-Likes Poems - Lila Julius, Illustrations by Helen Bar-Lev 150 aphoristic verses inspired by the Danish scientist, artist and poet, Piet Hein, 1905-1996 Price $9 includes shipping Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book
Sonatina by Johnmichael Simon  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’. Price $18 includes shipping Click here to preview this book   Go to the Payments page to purchase this book
Bordwinot by Johnmichael Simon  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. Unusual, entertaning and unputdownable stuff. Andre von Grimenitch, columnist for 'ParaPoets Byways Magazine'. Price $18 includes shipping Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book
Silly Wishes by Johnmichael Simon, illustrated by Helen Bar-Lev    Full color illustrations - original color art by Helen Bar-Lev. Fun for kids from seven to seventy. A wonderful collection of tongue twisting poems to delight the heart of every child and every adult with a love of animals, antics and rollicking language.Includes "A Daffy Dance Party', A Funny Goat Dream", "Fun at the Movies", "The Animals' Fancy Dress Party", " A Little Planet Rhyme", "Bedtime Questions", "Silly Wishes", "Funny Forest Animals" and many more. Price $20 includes shipping Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book
Phyrrs Hierwals and Bouldergeists by Johnmichael Simon Chapbook published by Assume Nothing Press (see storefront:  http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1238790 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'. Price $8.50 from lulu.com Click here to preview this book and purchase from lulu.com
Animals are Nature's Poetry Illustrations and Poems- Helen Bar-Lev  Twenty eight magnificent watercolor paintings of the animals in the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo from her exhibition which opened in March, 2004.  Includes Helen's poems about the animals in English and Hebrew. Editing and design - Johnmichael Simon Price $18 includes shipping   Click here to preview this book Go to the Payments page to purchase this book A wonderful present for children.
Summer, Roses and Rain All the prizewinning poems from the 2008 Cyclamens and Swords Publishing poetry contest. Price $5 includes shipping                                         Go to the Payments page to purchase this book