Winter, 1980: Poetry & Reflections
An essay about work, authority, and the systems that continue operating regardless of consequence. Set during the winter of 1980,
Personal Narrative
A First Day I Won’t Forget: My Boss is Jailed
Shortly after I arrived, the placement agency that had sent me there called. They were apologetic. They told me they could reassign me immediately if I wanted out. I told them no. I would stay and complete the job.
Connectivity & Broken Connections: A Personal Reflection
The web was still new then—not vastly public, not casual. Database-driven website connections were custom-built, expensive, and rare.
The Pilot Plant: A Business Start-up
Most days, it was just the two of us. He was older than I was and knew the procedures by heart, the kind of person who respected every step because he understood what depended on it.
đź““The Rain: Don’t Burn Your Bridges
The expressway wraps the city in monotony, passing warehouses and exits that no longer bother to announce themselves. That night, the rain drenched everything.
My Writing Year in Review: Books & Creative Projects in 2025
2025 was about consistency. Showing up, making small improvements, and staying focused. It made all the difference.
In Memory of My Father, Ronald Bayliss
Ronald Walter Bayliss December 14, 1933 – January 15, 2018 “Run, you rascal!”— My dad, at every Penn State game Today is my Dad’s Birthday A day to honor both celebration and quiet remembrance. Some of my fondest memories are the simple, joyful ones. I think of weekends at Penn State football games: the crisp … Read more
The Crossing: A Personal Narrative
Footsteps pass through the room. Voices spill and fade. Someone weeps. Someone prays. All of them kind, and all of them far away.
The Shadow Train: A Short Work by Doug Bayliss
Smoke on the horizon, moon ridin’ low,
Steel rails hummin’ where cold winds blow.
A train and its shadow, side by side.
Ridin’ the rails with nothing to hide.