[New-Poetry] Jim Simmerman

[James Cervantes]

Please understand that several stories were flung out in the immediate
aftermath of Jim's death.  I don't think anyone wants to "own the
narrative" but that all of us close by are more concerned with word of
his death getting to all those who should know and with proceeding
with plans for a memorial.  I, for one, gave out a mistaken version of
what occured with Jim's dog, Bandit, as I was repeating what I'd heard
from a Flagstaff resident.  Rebecca Byrkit *had* told me last week
that Bandit had died three months earlier.  I'd forgotten that and
gave the latest, mistaken version.  My apologies.

There will be a memorial event in Flagstaff in August and I will
convey the details when they are certain.

- Jim

On 7/4/06, Joseph Duemer <duemer at gmail.com> wrote:
> Ms. Byrkit informs me by email that she has known Jim for 27 years. She
> disputes my version of the facts presented above & in my blog post. She
> urges me to "be cool," which strikes me as fatuous advice, frankly.
> Especially since she suggested that I was contributing to an overflow of
> rumors about Jim. Clearly, she wants very badly to own the narrative.
>
>
> On 7/4/06, Joseph Duemer <duemer at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Rebecca Byrkit just posted the folloing on my weblog:
> >
> > <<Friends,
> >
> > Small stuff, but Jim simmerman did not give away his dog Bandit—she died
> four months ago. Also he did not, as Joseph D. says, "suffer from arthritis
> his entire life" but rather for about seven years'. Not crucial, but James
> (Jay, executor of Jim's estate and the person who found Jim) and I are
> sensitive to accuracy at this crucial point, and the rumors are already
> overflowering—
> > Thanks and more soon! may I quote Jim's and James' kind words about Jim in
> my article with the Sun?>>
> >
> > I would simply like to say, as someone who knew Jim much longer than Ms.
> Byrkit, that Jim's arthritis was long-standing. He quit doing karate in grad
> school because of it. If Ms. Byrkit is interested in accuracy, as she says,
> she will not discount as "rumor" the testimony of a friend of long-standing.
> Whatever other rumors may be "overflowing" Jim's physical pain for many
> years is something that many of his old friends will attest to. Whether that
> pain contributed to his suicide is anyone's guess, but the fact of that pain
> should not be in dispute. So is it "small stuff" or a "crucial point"?
> Frankly, I resent this attempt to take control of the narrative, especially
> since there can be no reason other than selfishness to do so.
> >
> >
> >
> > On 7/2/06, Joseph Duemer < duemer at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > When Jim & I worked together on Dog Music, we gave the profits to our
> two local animal shelters. Maybe those organizing the memorial would like to
> suggest donations to the Flagstaff animal shelter or some other organization
> & provide contact information. Just a thought.
> > >
> > > Here is what I wrote about Jim just now on my blog:
> > >
> > > I heard last night that my old grad school mate & Dog Music collaborator
> Jim Simmerman has taken his own life. Jim had suffered all his life from
> debilitating arthritis & given that he was a natural athlete, he was
> constantly in pain. Though we worked together on an extended project, Jim &
> I were not particularly close, but I feel his loss acutely nevertheless. Jim
> was among the most honorable & honest people I have known—any dishonesty, no
> matter how small, deeply offended him, which could make him severe. His
> severity, though, was always in defense of the good & the honorable. This
> attitude is one of the things that made him a strong & effective member of
> the AWP Board—I know because I served on that board shortly after Jim left
> it. We are always shocked by suicide, but one thing I know about Jim is that
> even this most radical & final act would have been taken in a state of
> existential awareness. I know that he lived as long as he could. There was a
> big storm here last night that broke shortly after I learned of Jim's death
> & I will let that mark his death in my memory.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 7/1/06, Rsgwynn1 at cs.com < Rsgwynn1 at cs.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 7/1/2006 9:07:41 PM Central Standard Time,
> duemer at gmail.com writes:
> > >
> > > I just heard about this. Jim &I were at Iowa together in the late 70s,
> then worked together on Dog Music a decade later. I just don't know what to
> say right now.
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm sorry, Joe.  Jim Cervantes has some details.
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
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> > > New-Poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Joseph Duemer
> > > Professor of Humanities
> > > Clarkson University
> > > [chujoe.net]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Joseph Duemer
> > Professor of Humanities
> > Clarkson University
> > [ chujoe.net]
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Joseph Duemer
> Professor of Humanities
> Clarkson University
> [chujoe.net]
>
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