[New-Poetry] R.I.P.: Jim Simmerman, 1952-2006

[James Cervantes]

Flag writers mourn death of local poet
By BETSEY BRUNER
Sun Staff Reporter
Thursday, July 6, 2006 11:50 AM CDT

Friends and fellow poets are mourning the death of Jim Simmerman, a
widely published poet and popular teacher at Northern Arizona
University.

Simmerman, 54, was found dead June 29 of an apparent self-inflicted
gunshot wound after struggling with severe health problems for several
years.

"He had boundless enthusiasm for poetry, beers at Charly's and rock
and roll," said Becky Byrkit, poet and executive director of the
Northern Arizona Book Festival. "He presented living, breathing
contemporary poets to our town like Mark Strand, Kenneth Koch and
Diane Wakoski...He epitomized the life of a writer, and many of us
would, very plainly, not be the people we are right now without his
influence. We all paid close attention to Jim, and we loved him."

Byrkit said Simmerman was considered the Flagstaff poet and had
initiated the creative writing program at NAU.

"He was internationally known; he's a heavy hitter," she said.

Simmerman's sudden death surprised many and sent the creative writing
community of Flagstaff into grief, including poet and friend James
Jay, who studied poetry at NAU with Simmerman.

"Jim Simmerman was the first poetry teacher I'd ever had and the best
one," he said. "His focus and commitment to teaching poetry as a
hard-fought, worthwhile and important venture continues to remain an
inspiration for me."

Simmerman loved to play guitar and his poetry was influenced by his
music, Jay said.

"There was quite a range," he said. "There was always a certain
musicality, rhythm, meter and repetition -- terrific to the ear. It
had to sound good when read aloud. There was a lyricism to his poetry,
that was key."

Simmerman published five poetry collections: "Home" (1983), which was
selected as a Pushcart "Writer's Choice" Selection; "Once Out of
Nature" (1989); "Moon Go Away, I Don't Love You No More" (1994), which
was nominated for a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize; "Kingdom
Come" (1999); and, most recently, "American Children" (2005).

Jay said Simmerman still had some poems currently out to editors.

His extensive study and knowledge of the world of poetry benefited
several local book stores

"He was a magnificent poet," said Martha Shideler, owner of Aradia Bookstore.

"One thing we liked, he would tell us the books we should order to
have a good collection of poetry. Now, we have a fairly good selection
of poetry, thanks to Jim."

An animal lover and longtime supporter of the Coconino County Humane
Society, Simmerman also co-edited the anthology, "Dog Music: Poetry
About Dog" (1996).

Simmerman also received fellowships from the Arizona Commission on the
Arts, Bread Loaf and Port Townsend writers' conferences, the Fine Arts
Work Center and the National Endowment for the Arts.

NAMED REGENTS PROFESSOR

Simmerman, who was born in Boulder, Colo., on March 5, 1952. His
father was a career military man in the Air Force and Simmerman
traveled throughout his childhood, including schooling in England.

He came to Northern Arizona University as an instructor in 1978 and
returned in 1981 after earning a master's degree in fine arts from the
University of Iowa.

He also earned a bachelor's and master's degrees from the University
of Missouri-Columbia.

In 2003, Simmerman was named a Regents Professor of English at NAU.

It was Jay who had gone to his friend's Cherry Hill home last week
after his calls were not returned and Simmerman had missed a medical
appointment at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. He found Simmerman dead
in the bedroom of his house.

According to Flagstaff police reports, Simmerman died from an apparent
self-inflicted gunshot wound. A living will was found near the body.
The gun was on his chest and one bullet was used.

Friends said Simmerman had been troubled with ill health for several
years, including a rare debilitating and painful form of arthritis.

"He'd had two hip replacements and was facing yet another surgery,"
said friend and fellow poet Jim Cervantes.

Jay, owner of Uptown Billiards, said he often drank beer with
Simmerman at his establishment. Simmerman named Jay the executor of
his estate.

"Sometimes, when someone gets depressed, there might be physical
manifestations; who knows which comes first," Jay said.

He is survived by his parents, Wade and Jane Simmerman; his brother,
Jeffry Simmerman; his wife Shelly; and six nephews and nieces.

There will be a small memorial service for family and friends in a week .

Jay and Byrkit, with the assistance of Allen Woodman and members of
the NAU English Department, are planning a public celebration of
Simmerman's life and work in mid-August, which will also serve as a
fund-raising event for the Coconino County Humane Society.

His extensive collection of books of poetry will be donated to the new
home of the Book Festival, the Northern Arizona Resource Center and
Artspace, on West Dale.

Reporter Betsey Bruner can be reached at bbruner at azdailysun.com or 556-2255.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Salt River Review:  http://www.poetserv.org
~ http://www.hamiltonstone.org/catalog.html#temporarymeaning
~ http://www.poetserv.net/jvchome/index.html
~ http://home.earthlink.net/~jvcervantes/