Category Archives: Uncategorized

octoberiver

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

the sun makes jewels of the river and the trees light long, slow fires and wetland pelicans like cottonfields gather and cottonmouths slitherpath to sleep and the turquoise sky like deep dreams and limestone bluffs all shadowpaint seep sweet water … Continue reading →

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King Gene

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

I, in my great unmatched wisdom, declare that the Village of Godfrey has hereby become the Kingdom of Gene. I am King Gene, not to be confused with Mr. Green Jeans or Gwen Stiffy Annie, or Greta What’shername. Make Adoration … Continue reading →

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Consider

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.” Consider the birds of the forest, the sky; they sing—not on Spotify. Consider a world without birds; Explain to your grandson: only feed birds … Continue reading →

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Prospects

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

A destitute family with no prospects moves, hoping for a better life. The son, just back from prison for manslaughter, rejoins them. They meet up with other destitute families all in the same boat—poverty, starvation, bad luck. When police kill … Continue reading →

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Happy

Posted on August 18, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

7-year-old St. Louisan Xavier Usanga was shot to death on August 12 while playing in his backyard. He was the tenth African American child to die from a gunshot since April. It is fairly easy to pick up a newspaper … Continue reading →

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Corny

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

I was sitting in a sub sandwich shop (not Subway), and the ubiquitous flat TV screen was there. I bit into my sandwich and looked up at the screen: ESPN. Was the show football? Baseball? Soccer (I love soccer)? WNBA? … Continue reading →

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Still, Life

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

Early morning, the sun half asleep, the breeze strong and cool. I walk ten miles, wind-aided, past Admire’s bench and across Piasa Creek. Carol Admire was killed when, a couple of years ago, a drunk driver hit her bicycle along … Continue reading →

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Watchers

Posted on August 11, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

  It sits silently on a two-foot-high tree stump, its long-muzzled head pivoting left and right. I hike over the hilltop and there it is, staring at me, and since he is a young herder dog, I am leery of … Continue reading →

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Village News

Posted on August 11, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

Godfray Village News Dear Mr. Baldwin, As you know, the Village of Godfray has passed the Godfray United Neighbors Nervous Unless Toting (GUNNUT) ordinance. Every Godfray citizen of voting age is hereby ordered to keep firearms in the home. As … Continue reading →

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Aztecs

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Eugene Jones Baldwin

In the summer of 1990, I interviewed Dr. John Gofman at a conference at Northwestern University. Gofman, PhD and MD, was speaking about the medical effects of radiation. He had manufactured the first teaspoonful of plutonium for the Manhattan Project, … Continue reading →

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