Paul Willis, professor of English at 蜜桃传媒, will be reading from his new book of poetry, 鈥溾�� (Cascade Books, 2013), Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. in Granada Books, 1224 State Street; and Thursday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. in Hieronymus Lounge at 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 Kerrwood Hall. Both events are free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.
蜜桃传媒 student-poets Riley Hall 鈥�14 and Katie Shara 鈥�14 will precede Willis at the 蜜桃传媒 reading.
鈥淪ay This Prayer into the Past鈥� reckons with cadavers in the family closet, a house
lost to a wildfire, and the heartbreaking beauty of the Sierra Nevada. 鈥淭hese poems
speak into the trials and joys the years have rendered,鈥� Willis says. 鈥淭heir purpose
is to bless those of us who mourn and to bring some measure of comfort.鈥�
Willis, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate from 2011-13, has published several collections of poetry, including 鈥淩osing from the Dead鈥� (WordFarm, 2009) and 鈥淰isiting Home鈥� (Pecan Grove Press, 2008). He has published numerous poems in journals such as Poetry, Ascent, Wilderness, and Christian Century.
He graduated from Wheaton College, earned a doctorate in English at Washington State University, and has taught at 蜜桃传媒 since 1988.