The Red School Bus is the second poetry collection by d. n. simmers (Nov 14, 1946 - Jul 9, 2020), a Vancouver-born poet whose work captures the quiet, human moments that shape a life. Known for his grounded clarity and compassionate voice, simmers writes through memory, neighbourhoods, family histories, and the fragile intersections of joy and sorrow.

His debut collection, Food Truck Elements of Shadowed Lights, won 3rd prize in the 2019 Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry, establishing him as a distinct and resonant voice in Canadian literature. In The Red School Bus, simmers continues to explore the landscapes of his past - mill yards, waiting rooms, winter streets, childhood echoes, and the small human stories that gather in the corners of ordinary days. His poems move with honesty and emotional depth, revealing a writer who listened closely to the world around him.

This collection stands as a vivid portrait of lived experience: the rusting bus by the slough, the mill yard where boys worked beside men, the quiet houses of Vancouver, the conversations overheard in waiting rooms, the moments of grief and resilience that shape a lifetime. Simmers' work is both intimate and universal, offering readers a window into the everyday beauty and sorrow that define human life.

Reformatted for worldwide distribution to carry on his legacy, The Red School Bus preserves simmers' unique storytelling and ensures his voice continues to reach readers everywhere. His third book, Walking Across the Day, and his fourth collection, Traveling Detours and U-Turns, released posthumously in August 2020, complete a body of work that remains deeply rooted in compassion, memory, and truth.

All four poetry books by d. n. simmers are available to order at retail bookstores and libraries through Ingram Distribution