John Louis Cimasi spent his childhood on a farm on the outskirts of the small village of Portland, in western New York State. He grew up to become a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
Some of the poems in his new collection, Verses from a Life, reflect this success story. Other touch upon deeply personal moments or musings.
Cimasi has been writing poetry for more than six decades. He plays and experiments with a variety of poetic styles, visual forms, and metrical patterns. His range shows a number of eclectic inspirations.
Cimasi recounts his first encounter with his wife in “Meeting Deborah.” Poems like “Justice, Betrayal” and “Love Eternal” explore their subjects with passion and daring. Cimasi weaves in classical and mythological references as well. A poem dedicated to a spider becomes “Pity Poor Arachne.” Other poems tackle different religious traditions and the largest questions we face in life.
Cimasi is an avid music lover, and he includes several odes to various composers and pieces. His passion for music comes out in the musicality of his work. Readers are encouraged to read aloud to experience the full effect of the poems.
