When I think of my friend Paul Willis I think of a person with a gentle soul. But at the same time I think of a person with a wise soul, a man of depth and thoughtfulness. Unassuming, quiet, even a bit shy, Paul is the kind of person you want to have a private conversation with. If you ever do, you’ll be thankful.
Since most of my readers will never have the chance to meet Paul, I have the next best option. He has recently published Say This Prayer into the Past
Now I’m not a big reader of poetry, but Paul captures something in a few short verses that most writers cannot approach with hundreds of pages. From the clever opening poem Free Verse to the contradictions expressed in the closing poem about the Santa Barbara Mission, Paul speaks to our hearts with just the right words at just the right time. My two favorites, What Then I Was and Pausing Out Front have kept my mind spinning since I read them.
You might not think of yourself as a person who would ever read a whole book of poetry. I get it. Neither do I. But seriously, buy this book. You’ll be blessed by the wisdom, the simplicity, the authenticity, and the gentleness of the words.
Which is pretty much how you would feel if you had the privilege of a private conversation with Paul.
