Lawrence Zillman, Poetry Professor

At a time when the reading and examining of poetry was on the wane, Prof. Lawrence J. Zillman devoted his life to its scholarly study and popular pursuit.

Professor emeritus of English at the University of Washington, Mr. Zillman died Monday at his home in Laurelhurst. He was 87.

Born in Shelton in 1902, Mr. Zillman grew up in Tacoma. In 1922 he graduated as class president from Stadium High School where he played drums in the school band.

Interested in English literature from an early age, one of the first purchases he ever made was a miniature leather-bound set of the complete works of William Shakespeare, said his grandniece, Paula deMello of Newhalem, Whatcom County.

Stricken with childhood arthritis, Mr. Zillman had to have both his legs broken and put in traction to prevent them from atrophying, deMello said.

This left him with a pronounced limp and he walked with a cane most of his life, she said.

He studied English at the UW where he received a bachelor's degree in 1928. He then taught at Willamette University in Salem, Ore., before returning to the UW to teach and pursue a Ph.D. in English in the mid 1930s.

An expert on the poets Byron, Shelley and Keats, Mr. Zillman taught and inspired many students at the UW before retiring in 1972 to pursue correspondence with colleagues and former students and care for his ailing wife, said deMello.

He would often read and discuss poetry with many community groups,

believing that ``a poem is never a poem until read aloud.''

``He taught everyone an appreciation of literature and the romance of poetry,'' said longtime friend and neighbor Keith M. Callow, chief justice of the Washington Supreme Court.

Mr. Zillman, who taught verse writing and poetry classes at the UW, wrote four books on poetry.

One book, an 800-page edition of ``Shelley's Prometheus Unbound,'' took seven years of research and editing, including a trip to Oxford University in England during the summer of 1963 in order to do research on Shelley.

Though three of his books are dedicated to his wife, Lorene, who passed away in 1980, Mr. Zillman dedicated his book, ``Writing Your Poem,'' to his students with these words: ``To the many students who have made this book possible and necessary.''

When Mr. Zillman married his wife in 1927, the couple decided not to have any children so he could devote himself to his academic pursuits. His wife often worked as his editor, deMello said.

In addition to inspiring college students to read and study poetry, he took to the airwaves in 1960 with a telecourse, ``Introduction to Poetry,'' in an attempt to reach the masses with his view that poetry offers something for everybody.

DeMello recalls gathering around the television with her sisters Monday evenings ``to watch Uncle on TV.''

In an interview in 1960, he said it was a tragedy that many Americans, after leaving high school or college, never read another piece of poetry.

``Many persons simply are frightened by poetry,'' he said. ``They never have been taught to read a poem as a work of art. It takes a great deal of imaginative discipline to appreciate the creative process. Poetry should come to the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts. The reaction to verse should be, `That's it - that's what I was thinking all the time.' ''

In an obituary he wrote himself, Mr. Zillman used the words of one of his favorite poets, Walter Savage Landor, to express himself:

Death stands above me, whispering low

I know not what into my ear:

Of his strange language all I know

Is, there is a not a word of fear

At his request, no memorial service will be held.

In addition to deMello, survivors include two other grandnieces, Marchia Marl of Tacoma and Victoria Davis of Portland; three great-grandnephews, Cameron and Kevin Marl of Tacoma and Daniel Davis of Portland; and one great-grandniece, Sara deMello of Port Angeles.

Remembrances may be made to the Lawrence and Lorene Zillman Endowed Fund of Children's Hospital and Medical Center.