[New-Poetry] Jim Simmerman

Sat Jul 8 19:56:17 EDT 2006

A number of Jim's friends & students have posted rememberances at Reading &
Writing <http://chujoe.net/index.php?id=840>.

jd

On 7/5/06, James Cervantes <cervantes.james at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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.
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > >
> > > > New-Poetry mailing list
> > > > New-Poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu
> > > > http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/new-poetry
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > 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]
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > New-Poetry mailing list
> > New-Poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu
> > http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/new-poetry
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
>
> ~ 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/
>
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>

-- 
Joseph Duemer
Professor of Humanities
Clarkson University
[chujoe.net]
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