Jack Elliott Myers

Jack Elliott Myers
Jack Myers Reading
Occupation	poet, professor, writer
Literary movement	New American Poets Modernism
Notable works	As Long As You're Happy

Jack Elliott Myers (November 29, 1941 - November 23, 2009), was a former Texas Poet Laureate and served on the faculty of Southern Methodist University in Dallas,Texas for more than 30 years. He was director of creative writing at SMU from 2001 through 2009. Mr. Myers co-founded the Writer's Garret, a nonprofit literary center in Dallas, with his wife, Thea Temple. He published numerous books of and about poetry, and served as a mentor for aspiring writers at SMU and as part of the writer's community and mentoring programs of the Writer's Garret.

Early life

Jack Myers was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to Jewish parents, Alvin G. and Ruth L. Myers, and developed an interest in writing and poetry at a young age. In his twenties he worked many odd jobs to support his self-directed study of poetry.

Early Career

In 1968 he married his first wife, Nancy Leppert, and a year later they had a son. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts in 1970. After finishing his degree he moved his family to Iowa where he was involved with the Iowa Writers Workshop. He became friends with another workshop participant, Richard Hugo, whom he wrote a book about, titled A Trout in the Milk, in 1980.

His second son was born in Iowa in 1972.

Later Career

After obtaining his Masters of Fine Arts in Writing Poetry Jack moved his family to Dallas, Texas. in 1975 Jack was hired as an Assistant Professor of English at Southern Methodist University.

In 1981 Jack became a "Field Faculty" member of Vermont College, and in June of that year married his second wife,Willa Robins. This union produced two children.

In 1981 he also become the Program Chair of SMU's English Department and served on many committees. During this time he wrote hundreds of poems; edited anthologies; published The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms, a chapbook, and two collections of poetry. One of these, As Long As You're Happy, won the 1985 National Poetry Series (selected by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney).

In 1993, Jack met his third wife, Thea Temple, at an AWP conference in Norfolk, Virginia. They were married six months later. This union led to a literary partnership and the most productive period of Jack's life, and the founding of the non-profit Writer's Garret in Dallas, Texas.

Final Years

From 1993 until his death he publish nine books about poetry, taught at six universities, chaired the board of the Writer's Garret, directed the creative writing program at SMU, appeared on radio and television talking about writing and poetry, edited magazines, and founded the Writer's Community and Mentorship Program. He also won awards for his writing and teaching.

Jack was named the Poet Laureate for the State of Texas in 2003, and the City of Mesquite, Texas honored him with "Jack Myers Day."

Books

• Routine Heaven, Texas Review Press, 2005. Volume of poems .
• The Poet’s Portable Workshop, Wadsworth/Thomson College Textbooks, 2004
• Dictionary of Poetic Terms, North Texas State University, 2003
• The Glowing River: New & Selected Poems, Invisible Cities Press, 2001
• OneOnOne, Autumn House Press, Pittsburgh, 1999. A volume of poems.
• Human Being, Rancho Loco Press, Dallas, 1998, a chapbook of poems.
• Leaning House Poets, Vol. 1, Leaning House Records, Dallas, 1996. A CD/anthology of works by seven nationally known poets, co-edited with Mark Elliott.
• Blindsided, David R. Godine, Inc., Boston, 1993. A volume of poems.
• New American Poets of the 90’s, David R. Godine, Inc., Boston, 1991. An anthology of contemporary poetry co-edited with Roger Weingarten (3rd printing)
• A Profile of Twentieth-Century American Poetry, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, 1991. A critical/aesthetic history co-edited with David Wojahn.
• As Long as You're Happy, Graywolf Press, Saint Paul, 1986.

Winner of the l985 National Poetry Series Open Competition (Selected by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney)

• The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms, Longman, Inc., NY, 1985. A reference work co-edited with Michael Simms (paperback edition, 1988). Revised Edition, 1995.
• New American Poets of the 80’s, Wampeter Press, Key West, 1984. An anthology of contemporary poetry co-edited with Roger Weingarten.
• Coming to the Surface, Trilobite Press, Denton, TX, 1984. A chapbook of poems.
• I'm Amazed That You're Still Singing, L'Epervier Press, Seattle, 1981. A full volume of poems.
• A Trout in the Milk: A Composite Portrait of Richard Hugo, Confluence Press, Lewiston, Idaho, 1980. Festschrift.
• The Family War, L'Epervier Press, Fort Collins, CO, 1977. A volume of poems. (1978 Texas Institute of Letters Award, finalist in Elliston small press Book award)
• Will It Burn, Falcon Publishing, Boston, 1974. Poems with photographs by David Akiba.
• Black Sun Abraxas, Halcyone Press, Boston, 1970. A book of poems.

Essays and Poems in Anthologies, Textbooks, and Recordings

• Breathe: 101 Contemporary Odes, Ryan Van Cleave and Chad Prevost, ed., (C & R Press, 2008.
• The Weight of Addition: An Anthology of Texas Poetry (Mutabilis Press, Houston, 2008)
• A Student’s Texas Treasury of Verse, TCU Press, 2008.
• Joyful Noise: An Anthology of American Spiritual Poetry, ed., Robert Strong, Autumn House Press, 2007.
• Open Book: Essays From the Postgradute Writers’ Conference, Featherstone & Weingarten, eds., Cambridge Scholars Press, UK, 2006
• Under the Rock Umbrella: Contemporary American Poets, 1951-1977, Wm. Walsh, ed., Mercer Univ. Press, 2006.
• The Autumn House Anthology of American Poems and Prayers, ed., Robert Strong, Autumn House Press, 2006.
• Manthology: Poems of the Male Experience, David R. Godine, 2006
• The Giant Book of Poetry, ed., William Roetzheim, Level Four Press, 2006
• 180 More: Extraordinary Poems for Every Day, ed., Billy Collins, Random House, 2005
• Is This Forever or What?: Poems & Paintings from Texas (Greenwillow Press, 2004)
• Stand Up for Poetry: for the Page & the Stage, University of Iowa Press, 2002
• Poets of the New Century, David R. Godine, 2002
• Essential Love, ed., Ginny Lowe, Grayson Books, 2000.
• American Diaspora: Poetry of Exile, Univ of Iowa Press, 2000
• Clockpunchers: Poetry of America's Workplace, Partisan Press, 2000
• The Body Electric, W.W. Norton, 2000
• Poems and Their Sources, The Literary Review Press, 2000
• Who Are the Rich and Where Do They Live? , Poetry East Special Edition, 2000
• Best of American Poetry Review, New York: W.W. Norton, 2000.
• My Business Is Circumference: Influence & Mastery, Paul Dry Books, Philadelphia, 2000
• What Have You Lost? William Morrow, 2000
• Best Texas Poetry 2, Fire Wheel Editions, 1999
• Best Texas Poetry 1, Fire Wheel Editions, 1998
• Leaning House Poets I, CD/Anthology of poetry, (Leaning House Records, Dallas, 1996)
• Inheritance of Light, anthology, Univ. of North Texas Press, 1996
• Seneca Review 25-Year Retrospective, 1995
• Heartcore: Inspirations for Healthy Sexual Intimacy (Harper/Collins, 1996)
• Dog Music: A Poetry Anthology (St. Martins Press, 1996)
• Articulations: Contemporary Poetry About Medicine (Univ. of Iowa Press, 1995)
• Texas In Poetry: A 150 Year Anthology (Center for Texas Studies, 1994)
• Sports in America (Witness, Wayne State Univ. Press, 1995)
• Stand Up Poetry (Cal State Univ. press, Long Beach, 1993)
• The Art and Craft of Poetry (Writers' Digest/North Light Books, 1993)
• The Practice of Poetry (Harper Books, 1992)
• Celebrating Men (forthcoming poetry anthology)
• New American Poets of the 90’s (David R. Godine, 1992)
• The Texas Poetry Anthology (Corona Press, 1991)
• The Best of Crazy Horse (Univ of Arkansas, 1991)
• Anthology of Magazine Verse and Yearbook of American Poetry (Monitor Pub., 1985)
• New American Poets of the 80’s, (Wampeter Press, 1984)
• Ohio Review Ten-Year Retrospective (Ohio Univ. Press, 1984)
• The Poet's Choice: 100 American Poets (Tendril Press, 1980)
• Anthology of Magazine Verse and Yearbook of American Poetry (Monitor Pub., 1980)
• Voices Within the Ark: Modern Jewish Poets (Avon, 1980)
• Texas Poetry Anthology, 1979
• Texas Stories and Poems, 1977
• Travois, 1976
• The American Poetry Anthology: Poets Under 40 (Avon, 1975)
• Intro #4, 1972
• Anthology of College Poetry, 1964

References

• [1] Jack Myers Curriculum Vita - Courtesy the Writer's Garret
• [2] In Memoriam: Jack Elliott Myers - Courtesy the Writer's Garret