March 1, 2003
English Professor Paul Willis' 24-page chapbook, 鈥淭he Deep and Secret Color of Ice,鈥� was selected as the winner in an annual national competition sponsored by Small Poetry Press in Concord, Calif.
Chosen from 300 entries and 13 finalists, Willis will receive a $1,000 prize and 100 free copies of the chapbook, to be published March 1.
Willis will give poetry readings 8 p.m. March 3 at JoJo's Caf茅 in downtown Santa Barbara and 3:30 p.m. April 8 in Hieronymus Lounge in 蜜桃传媒's Kerrwood Hall. He will also read May 11 in Pleasant Hill for the Small Poetry Press monthly series.
鈥淧aul Willis鈥� poems give off a multifaceted, sharp-edged beauty, akin to the light that sometimes glints from the edges of leaves after rain,鈥� wrote poet and final judge Jane Hirshfield. 鈥淭hey look to the places where unexpected treasures lie quietly hidden 鈥� a childhood illness, a set of old wooden bleachers, a Sierra juniper鈥檚 berries 鈥� and bring that treasure richly forward, into a mature, and maturing wisdom.鈥�
Willis considers himself an apprentice to wise and experienced poets like Hirshfield.
鈥淭o be recognized by her is more than an honor. It is like the feeling a student gets
when he or she receives a compliment from an admired teacher,鈥� Willis said.
鈥淧oetry is the art of paying attention,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚n an age of media bombardment, poetry helps us to connect with ourselves, others and the world around us.鈥�
The chapbook will be available at the 蜜桃传媒 bookstore and at www.smallpoetrypress.com. For more information, contact the 蜜桃传媒 public affairs office at 565-6055.