 "Photo: Jordan Jessop")
On Aug. 2, Charles Simic, UNH professor emeritus of literature, received a phone call from the Librarian of Congress, James Billington. The librarian asked Simic if he would accept the offer to become the newest U. S. Poet Laureate.
"I said 'thank you and I'll call you back,'" said Simic. He said he was overwhelmed by the honor and wanted to take a day to think about it.
It's not as if Simic didn't have enough literary activities to participate in. The poet is internationally regarded for his essays, books, memoirs, poetry, and teaching skills. If Simic was to write a resume, it would be crowded with accolades.
"He's internationally known," said Andrew Merton, a UNH journalism professor.
The New Yorker frequently publishes his work. He won the Wallace Stevens Award from the American Academy of Poets this year, a Pulitzer in 1990 and the McArthur Grant in the 80s. He also holds the title of Co-Poetry Editor of the Paris Review.
"I have been doing that for a couple years," said Simic.
However, Simic's poetry prowess has been exercised longer than most of his students have been alive. Born in Yugoslavia in 1938, he immigrated to the U. S. as a teenager, settling in New York City. He began to use writing and painting as a creative outlet in high school, and was published senior year by the Chicago Review in its 1959 winter issue.
"I published poems early," said Simic.
His style has been described by poetry critics as surreal, sometimes black and ironic - reminiscent of William Blake. However, there still remains a light spirited feel in some of his poetry, according to his readers.
"He plays with poetry," said Noel Tague, a senior English major who has taken a Simic class. "His poetry is quirky and sometimes experimental, edgy and fun. Above all, it's humorous. He writes about life in Eastern Europe but puts this surreal, absurd twist to it. It's spiritual."
However, not every aspiring poet is able to take Simic's class - they are somewhat exclusive. In order for Tague to take his class, she was required to submit a mini-manuscript of her work. This exclusivity is partially because Simic teaches only one Wednesday class this semester at the university. But students who take his classes and faculty who work with him assert that Simic is a humble man but an effective professor.
"He's kind of soft-spoken but very direct," said Merton.
While his reputation is irrefutably celebrated, students find that his workshops are enlightening because Simic has a humble, good-humored attitude towards literature.
"In workshop, he'd laugh and be light-hearted and joke," said Tague. "Like this is something fun that we do. The most memorable thing I remember from him is the importance of working and laughing in the face of bad poems or good poems. He can be incredibly blunt but it's all deserving. He'll pick out specific lines, and say 'that's your poem right there. That's what you need to keep.'"
Simic is going to be kept busy this fall until about November when he'll be given a break. At the end of October, he'll be introducing poets at the library of Congress and working with fellowships.
Simic has been getting a lot of attention lately due to his newfound notoriety. There is a lot of mail waiting for him since he has been appointed the newest U.S. Poet Laureate. However there has been some more peculiar attention received as well due to his new title.
"I inevitably get strange letters too. People think I should read their published poems," said Simic.
He also routinely tours across the U. S, mainly to give poetry readings. Around November, he'll have a little more time in his schedule. Currently, he lives in Strafford, New Hampshire with a lake nearby. Even though he's a busy man with a full schedule, Simic still enjoys the title of professor.
"I like teaching. I enjoy being around young people and talking about literature," said Simic.
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