Poetry
Short-form writing and personal expression.
VerseReflection
Poetry, short stories, character studies and observations, shaped by a lifetime of making, measuring and noticing.
No. 01 · ObservationsYorba Linda, California
A second chapter written from a lifetime of work
(001)In high school I was fortunate to have great teachers and mentors who guided me through the world of creative writing. I carried those skills into a 52-year career in aerospace component manufacturing, where I worked as a machinist, engineer, quality control inspector, tool designer and estimator, and where technical writing was part of the job.
I retired in 2022 and combined both worlds into freelance writing. I have self-published two small books and plan on reaching a wider audience. I enjoy reading other authors and sharing criticism and acknowledgement of their skill and talent, and I augment my writing with photographs and background displays.
52Years in aerospace
23Years at my last company
2Self-published books
2022Began writing full time
What I write
(006)Words, observations and photographs collected along the way.
Short Stories
Narrative pieces drawn from people, places and imagination.
FictionNarrative
Character Studies
Portraits in words of the people and personalities that stay with me.
PeopleDetail
Observations
Notes on the world around me, from the road to the backyard pond.
EverydayPlace
Books
Two small self-published books, with more on the way.
Self-publishedPrint
Photographs
Images that accompany and augment my writing.
LandscapeSky
Every page starts with something noticed.
Read along, share what moves you, and tell me what you noticed.
From my lens and my notebook
(009)How a piece comes together
(005)Precision from the shop floor, patience from the page.
001.
Observe
I start with what is in front of me: a road, a sky, a person, a moment.
002.
Note
I write it down while it is fresh, the way I once logged every measurement.
003.
Draft
I shape the words into a poem, a story or a character study.
004.
Photograph
I pair the piece with an image or background display.
005.
Share
I publish it and invite readers to respond.
Meet Paul
I am 74 years old and happily married for 53 years to Alena Mae. We have a son and a daughter, two grandchildren and eight koi in the backyard pond. We have lived in the same house since 1981.
My years as a machinist, engineer, quality control inspector, tool designer and estimator taught me precision. Writing taught me to look closer.
Machinist · Engineer · Quality Control · Tool Design · Estimating · Technical Writing
MachinistEngineerQuality ControlTool DesignEstimatingTechnical WritingPoetryShort StoriesCharacter StudiesObservationsPhotography
Writing is better when it is shared
Readers and observers are welcome here. Share a thought, a photograph or a writer you admire.
Share a thought on something you have read here.
Tell me what you noticed today, or send a photograph.
Recommend an author whose work deserves acknowledgement.
Pass a piece along to someone who would enjoy it.
Let's share the page
Have a thought about something you have read? Want to share your own work or simply say hello?