Always Winter

Always Winter

Paul Willis

(Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Here in the middle of June, this toyon
already has its berries, red and green,

like Christmas lights left up on the eaves
all year long, in season and out.

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Paul Willis
Poet

Paul has published eight collections of poetry, the most recent of which are Somewhere to Follow (Slant Books, 2021) and Losing Streak (Kelsay Books, 2024). He is an emeritus professor of English at Westmont College and a former poet laureate of Santa Barbara, California, where he lives with his wife, Sharon, near the old mission.

Photography by Janusz Walczak