Paul Sheldon holds book signing Saturday

NORWICH – A local poet will be signing copies of his first book on Saturday at First Edition Book Store in Norwich.

Paul Sheldon has been writing poetry his entire life, and after years of writing and keeping his own poems, Sheldon was encouraged to compile his writing into a book. “I’ve been writing poetry my whole life, and they started to gather up. So my wife and my family and friends told me I should either do something with them or throw them away,” Sheldon explained.

Growing up in West Bainbridge, Sheldon has many memories of his childhood and his days in the United States Navy and of the events that take place over a lifetime. Those memories are the themes of his poetry and his book, titled “Life Through Poetry.”

Sheldon explained where the ideas for his poetry come from, saying many are just things he remembers from his past. “One thing I remember, Sundays the family always had chicken for dinner, and back then when you had chicken, you actually had to have someone go out to the chicken coop and get the chicken,” Sheldon said. Those memories and others, including some from his 20 years in the Navy, mix with thoughts on things in the news or in life to make up the poetry in Sheldon’s book.