Vox Populi
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Michael Simms: You Taught Me
To listen without trying
To see without trying
To be here effortlessly
Letting words flow through
You with a sense of humor
Fascination being the rule
The guiding star in a dark
Field of star-flies which grow
From grubs you wouldn’t
Admire even on a good day
Which came often in those
Days opening a textbook
On set-theory to explain
Grammar as if it could but
.
It could and the time you pointed
At the bubbles rising in the pitcher
Of beer to explain consciousness
Which was blurred by that time
Of evening you never said you
Wanted to kiss me until many
Years later when you were dying
And I was old and you were
Older what a pair we were
Bumbling through the department
Of tears when your old professor
Was dying and now mine
.
In memory of John Lewis
John Lewis was my teacher and mentor when I was an undergraduate at Southern Methodist University 1972-1976, then we were colleagues in the English Department from 1979-1987. He was funny, brilliant, kind and passionate, my best and most important teacher and a supportive senior colleague. When I first met him, he looked much like the photograph below:
Poem copyright 2022 Michael Simms
Michael Simms is the founding editor of Vox Populi. His recent books include a collection of poetry, Nightjar (Ragged Sky, 2021), and a novel Bicycles of the Gods: A Divine Comedy (Madville, 2022).
Vox Populi 
Is it okay if I follow up again in 1810336066 months?.
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I love it.
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Thanks, Marina!
M.
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Once again, Michael, you’ve shared your beautiful poetic thoughts. Thank you!
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thank you, Gene!
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What a humble & moving tribute, Mike!
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Thank you, Laure-Anne. I love the elegies you’ve written over the last few years, so your praise means everything to me.
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A lovely memorial.
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Thanks, John.
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Beautiful.
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thanks, Arlene!
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