Autumn

Autumn
James M M Baldwin
 
Gold leaves clatter on high perches.
Copper coins drift on cool breezes.
 
Red leaves uncover naked oak branches.
Yellow conceals forgotten summer trails.
 
Squirrels hiding acorns chatter at work.
Canadian geese gather honking flocks.
 
Dust clouds shadow tractors harvesting.
Cinnamon sugar sweetens hot cider.
 
Halloween hauntings scare little children.
Pumpkins carved into spooky jack lanterns.
 
Bountiful meals enjoyed in thanks giving.
Families rejoice in their reunions.
 
Autumn

Peace and love,
Jim

Little Black Box

Little Black Box
James M M Baldwin
 

My little black box wakes me up every morn.
My little black box says which jacket I wore.
 

With my little black box, I can see in the dark.
My little black box tells me just where to go.
 
My little black box takes pictures of dogs.
On my little black box, I can play Angry Birds.
 
My little black box I can add one and one.
My little black box knows all the birthdays.
 
My little black box I can call my old mom.
My little black box keeps in touch with my friends.
 
With my little black box, I don’t need a pen.
My little black box spells everything right.
 
With my little black box, I don’t need a stamp.
My little black box carries all of my books.
 
My little black box plays my favorite songs.
My little black box shows me you tube.
 
On my little black box, I watch tv shows.
My little black box changes the channels.
 
My little black box sends cash for a ride.
My little black box controls my house lights.
 
My little black box shows me all of the news.
My little black box, yeah it knows everything.

My little black box contains the whole world.
My little black box, I freak when it’s lost.

My little black box is my only friend.
My little black box is part of my hand.

*

Do you love or hate your cell phone?

Perhaps it's a love/hate relationship.

Let me know.

Peace,

Jim

Black Elk

Black Elk
Tower of the Four Winds

James M M Baldwin
 
Tree lined pastures rise and crest.
Long white clouds drift unobstructed by blue-eyed-heavens.
Leaves shed sunlit tears across green grass.
Valleys fall to shaded floors deep below.
 
Well-trodden paths meander.
Tiresome climbs.
Leisurely descents.
Bumble bees chase overcurious onlookers from nectar laden blossoms.
 
Bark, gnarly with age, others tender and smooth.
More leaf shapes than most could ever know.
Some reaching high to drink in light.
Others content in their unassuming stature.
 
Multitudinous birdsongs flood clean air nestled between rolling hills.
Numerous flora aromas combine as one bouquet.
Blue jay wings flit unheard through branches.
Unseen insects orchestrate waving grasslands.
 
Sparrows flutter when the man enters their hidden meadow.
Shade welcomes weary travelers.
Smell of green hangs heavy.
Stop, rest, contemplate.

A train whistle blows hidden in the distance.

Peace and love,

Jim

Iron Maiden Senjutsu Somewhere in Time

 

In honor of Iron Maiden’s upcoming album release on September 3, 2021;

A recent article from Loudwire listed the fifty most used words in Iron Maiden songs.

I converted those words into this poem,

Somewhere in Time

 

Know Now is the Time

Just wait let’s See

When last in line

Can Life Take me

 

Again, we Feel

Away Like Man

Down to our souls

Out Live our Death

 

Day Never ends

World never Die

Get out alive

God’s kingdom Come

 

Fear not

A special thanks to the greatest Heavy Metal band in world history;

Iron Maiden

 https://www.ironmaiden.com/

Thanks to Loudwire

Viikon- Loppu- Saturit

See the article here

https://loudwire.com/most-commonly-used-word-iron-maiden-lyrics/

Accompanying the new albulm there are so many cool new Eddies.

Up the Irons!

Jim

#IronMaiden #Stratego #Senjutsu #WritingontheWall

One Plus One Is One

Eyes held wide open

Yet vision unclear

Lips often tremble

No words reach your ear

Eyes often blinded

By welling of tears

Tongue also vacant

Beholden to fear

Hold me in your heart

Days, a month, or years

After lifetimes pass

You will find me here

Hold me in your arms

Hold tight, draw me near

My hopes and my dreams

You’re all I hold dear

do ants have souls

After years of work, "do ants have souls” is available now. These 44 poems encompass 40 years exploring the oral arts. Some of the lyrical poems were written for songs performed as a heavy metal band in the 1980s. Others written after love gone wrong, contemplation on the fragility of life, and on life’s many joys and tragedies. The ink drawings were painstakingly completed and the final work is available now in print and e-format. Get all of my books at Amazon here.

So, there you have it. After 40 years writing and two years drawing, I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I enjoyed the lifetime it took putting it together.

Peace and Love

Jim

Twisted Fate

After a 2019 from hell and back and to hell again, I have once again reached a joyous place. Hoping I will not sink into the grasps of the dark place, knowing it could be lurking around any corner. Currently, I cannot feel the emotions I felt when I wrote these two poems. The first was written about a month ago while walking in the dark. The second was written two weeks ago on a particularly tough Wednesday eve. 

Anyway, at the risk of exposing my sole

Twisted Fate

Grief's twisted face rises from swirling black mist below.

"Today you are mine."

A gnarled hand lurches out, pulls me under. 

No escape.

Wounding me deeper deeper inside twisting turning grasping pulling internal organs.

Disrupting neuron telegraphs.

ALABASTER facade hides turmoil within.

Flames rage, destroying hopes and plans, creeping vines of despair fill the dark void.

Loneliness and grief walk hand and hand

Complimenting each other as they stroll searching for their next victim.

Leaving me in torturous solitude.

Laughing at my resistance.

Negativity feeds

Negativity feeds

Feeds on itself

Finding related negatives

Attracting unrelated troubles

Growing

Frustration multiplies

Collecting electric charges

Crackling static lightning ball

victim Surrounded

Tearing the soul

Blackening the heart

But alas. There is hope in despair. Trust me. Happiness can be found.

The title, Twisted Fate, is stolen from a short story available in my Beyond the Visual Cortex collection.

As a bonus two of my books are free and two others are .99 cents from July 13 thru 17.

Jim

hatter's riddle

raven contentment
sergio de companion

hatter's riddle

why is a raven like a writing desk
alice gives up
the hatter admits
i haven't the slightest idea
riddle without an answer
poe wrote on both
it can produce a few notes
though very flat
nevar put with the wrong end in front
nevar is raven
merely afterthought
originally invented with no answer
there is a b in both and an n in neither
neither is ever approached without caws
you can baffle the billions with both
there isn't any answer
it slopes with a flap
the notes for which they are noted
are not noted

raven euphoriasergio de companion

for being musical notes
poe's demon bird
nevermore
quoth the raven
nevermore
and the raven
never flitting
still is sitting
still is sitting


thanks to
Lewis Carroll
Sam Loyd
Aldous Huxley
Cyril Pearson
Edgar Allen Poe



The illustrations are experimental Sergio de Companion pieces that will be on display as part of a ravens and doves display this fall at Baldwin Gallery in Omaha. So, keep your eye out for that. While you're there, you can pick up one of my books.

Jim

James M M Baldwin, Sergio de Companion, Jim

It is said, science fiction and fantasy are two separate things. Science fiction; the improbable made possible. Fantasy; the impossible made probable. But what happens when you mix these two opposites? Rod Serling,Twilight Zone The Fugitive 7/9/1962

Born into this mixture between science fiction and fantasy, speculative fiction author James M M Baldwin persists in these endeavors to this day.

After writing three to six hours a night, six nights a week (never on a Sunday), for 15 years, (that’s approximately 21,000 hours), I took a break from writing. From Memorial Day, 2017 to Labor Day, I didn’t write a tittle or a toddle (or a title). I did participate in the Nebraska Writers Workshop’s June Bits of Scripts facilitated by Sally J. Walker. That was a big success this year.

Island of Magic

Portals of Erzandor

You’d think, with that many hours writing I’d have more to show for it. Beside the two novels; SPENCER MURDOCH AND THE PRORTALS OF ERZANDOR and SPENCER MURDOCH AND THE ISLAND OF MAGIC. Beside my science fiction short story collection;  ORION’S ARM: TALES FROM THE MILKY WAY. Beside my horror collection; BEYOND THE VISUAL CORTEX: TALES FROM THE INNER REACHES OF THE MIND. Beside and my long form poetry collection on mental health topics; MENTALCHAOS. Beside the situation comedy, MOCKINGBIRD HEIGHTS, written for the 2016 NWW Bits of Scripts (yes it’s true, sometimes I think I’m funny). And besides turning my short story DREAM HUNTERS into a feature length sci-fi/fantasy/horror script. Besides all that. There’s one thing I’ve accomplished more than any other; rejection.

Beyond the Visual Cortex

Orion's Arm

Pursuing traditional publishing is a tricky path. Convincing an agent or publisher to invest in you is somewhat of a catch-twenty-two. You can’t get them to notice you without a record of successful publishing, and you can’t get that record without getting published (to a certain extent). With that said, Mockingbird Heights’ failure to place in the 2017 Omaha Film Festival (I might not be as funny as I think I am) registered as my 213^th rejection.

I think I've earned a break.

Tatanka, Sergio de Companion

During my hiatus, I finished several large art projects painting under the brush-name Serio de Companion. (If you had read Spencer Murdoch and the Portals of Erzandor, you’d know I stole the name from my own writing.) As Sergio, working religiously every Sunday, I’ve completed hundreds of works, many abstract, recently swinging almost 180 degrees, creating my own lineal contemporary style. I’ve not started counting gallery rejections. Not yet. While continuing my lineal contemporary series, I’m adding a ledger art line matching historical event drawings with antique ledger paper from the same years. If you’re interested in ledger art, take a look at the great Don Montileaux’s website.

Sergio de Companion Ledger Art

Mental Chaos

Another thing I seem to be good at (whether writing or painting) is ideas. I have lots of ideas. I have more ideas than I have time. In my writing que are two more novels and another screen play, but next on my list is my second poetry collection (yet unnamed).

Bottom line, you’ll see more of me in the future. Whether as James M M Baldwin, Sergio de Companion, or just plain Jim, I’ll be lurking around somewhere. You may have to scan a few asteroids. 

Peace and love, brothers and sisters.

Jim

POLITIC

POLITIC

POLITIC

Caution

Ev’rything you’re about to read

contained herein, is haiku

(almost)

Conversation in Haiku

Not true haiku

Not true to Japanese roots

Allen Ginsberg asserted

Haiku did not fit

(the) English language

Ginsberg proposed the Seventeen syllable American Sentence

POLITIC

Campaign in American Sentence

POLITICK

Politician

Campaign in American Sentence

Fit for the twitter-verse

Politician

Don’t keep up with the Joneses.

Drag them down to your level

it’s cheaper.

Politicians and diapers

need changed often

for the same reason

Elusive mythical creature

(the) honest politician

POLITICK

Action Seeming sensible

Judicious

Under the circumstances

Prejudice in favor of a

particular political cause

Relating to or

Acting according to,

Int’rest of status

Organizational power

rather than matters of principle

This part is for listeners with rules

mandatory rhyme part

Sort of

Politicism

journalism, activism, anarchism, narcissism, 

chauvinism, criticism, cynicism, egotism, 

feminism, humanism, fed’ralism, conservatism,

lib’ralism, leftism, socialism, fascism, 

communism, Leninism, Marxism, Stalinism,

optimism, opportunism, symbolism, materialism,

patriotism, hooliganism,  extremism, racism,

radicalism, obstructionism,  unilateralism,

authoritarianism, totalitarianism,

antidisestablishmentarianism

Thus ends the optional mandatory rhyme portion of the poem

MODERATOR

In this debate

we’ve decided whether or not to have a handshake

To have a bell or a buzzer

The audience should remain silent

Unless something extra-ordinary happens,

then, you’ll be scolded

With seeming narrow path to the Whitehouse

(and)only one adult on stage

He can’t be president

He had something on his lip when he spoke

She can’t be president

A giant fly landed on her shirt

while she spoke

Not a soul knows what she said

Ev’ryone was mesmeriz’d by the fly

TRUMP

This guy,

he’s a choke artist

This guy,

he’s a liar

Lies all the time

This guy

This guy here

He repeats himself

I don’t repeat myself

TRUMP

I saw him repeat himself

five times last week

I don’t repeat myself

TRUMP

He repeated himself three times

five seconds ago

I don’t repeat myself

TRUMP

Plus

He’s a liar

He’s the biggest liar since

the Mexican American war

He’s a liar

He’s too Canadian

He’s too low energy

He’s controll’d by lobbyists and donors

You know bing bing bong

you know

He’s a lightweight

He’s a nasty guy

He’s the single biggest liar

BERNIE S

Democratic Socialism

Gonna be HUGE

Free College for all

We can save capitalism

from itself

It’ll be huge

JOHNSON

Aleppo?

What is Aleppo?

KRUZ

I’ll enact Solutions

not create slogans

The nuclear triad is not a rock band

from the 1980’s

  

HILLARY

Half of your voters are from

a Basket of deplorables

racist, sexist, homophobic,

xenophobic, Islamaphobic

You name it

CARSON

Counting on the uniformed

making use of useful idiots

MODERATOR

You call’d women you don’t like

fat pigs, dogs, slobs,

disgusting animals

TRUMP

Locker room talk

our biggest problem is political correctness

HILLARY

Trumped up, trickle down.

My father was a drap’ry maker.

My husband did a pretty good job.

TRUMP

NAFTA is the single worst

trade deal ever signed

in hist’ry

Anywhere.

HILLARY

That is just not correct.

I was against it once.

But now I’m for it

TRUMP

You called it the gold standard.

Called it the gold standard.

You have no plan

HILLARY

You can pick up my book

at the groc’ry store or airport.

You make all these claims.

TRUMP

Facts.

HILLARY

I know you live in your own little reality.

Look at my website.

TRUMP

Look at my website.

HILLARY

I have a feeling

that by the end of the evening,

I’m going to be blamed for everything

that’s ever happened.

TRUMP

Why not?

Typical politician,

all talk, no action.

sounds good, doesn’t work,

never gunna happen.

HILLARY

It’s My granddaughter’s birthday

for her the wealthy must pay their fair share

TRUMP

Release your emails

I made a mistake

using a private e-mail server.

TRUMP

It’s not a mistake

when it’s done purposefully.

Release the emails

BERNIE S

The American people

are sick and tired

of hearing about your emails

HILLARY

Release your tax return

Maybe he’s not as rich as he says he is.

Maybe he’s not as charitable

as he claims to be.

Maybe he doesn’t

want you to know he’s paid nothing.

TRUMP

That makes me smart.

HILLARY

That’s zero for troops,

Zero for schools,

zero for health,

zero for vets.

Something terrible he’s trying to hide.

Can only guess what it is.

TRUMP

My father gave me a small loan

Turned it into billions and billions.

HILLARY

I’ve met a lot of people

stif’d by you, your comp’ny.

Drap(e)ry hangers

TRUMP

That’s call’d business by the way,

I take advantage of the laws.

Don’t like it? Change the law.

you’ve been doing this for 30 years.

Why haven’t you fixed it?

HILLARY

Our biggest enemies are not the NRA,

not the health insurance companies,

Not the drug companies,

not the Iranians,

It’s the republicans

Syria is a quagmire in a quagmire

Chaos in the middleeast

Russia

TRUMP

China

JOHNSON

Aleppo?

TRUMP

Benghazi

  

HILLARY

You encouraged Russia

to engage in cyber attacks

TRUMP

You don’t know it’s Russia.

You keep saying

Russia Russia Russia,

maybe it was.

It could Russia.

It could also be China.

It could have been anyone.

It could have also been someone

sitting on their bed

 that weighs 400 pounds.

HILLARY

You’re Putin’s puppet

TRUMP

No, you’re the puppet,

You’re the puppet.

It all sounds good.

HILLARY

Fracking is a crisis of historical consequence

Suicide course

TRUMP

Wrong. It’s all words

Our leaders are stupid

polititions are stupid

HILLARY

Im just gunna let you talk.

I’m just gunna scratch my nose

blink my eyes,

Occasional incredulous smile

Economic dislocation

TRUMP

It’s china, and mexico.

Jobs, jobs, jobs.

Reduce taxes.

Jobs, jobs, jobs.

HILLARY

It’s easy to diagnose the problem,

harder to do something about it

TRUMP

China built a wall

3000 years ago.

Nobody gets through that.

JOHNSON

Aleppo?

TRUMP

Nobody likes you

HILLARY

I’m committed to raising taxes on the rich.

My contributions will go up.

His contributions will go up.

As long as he can’t figure out how to get out of it.

TRUMP

Such a nasty woman

Such a nasty woman

With pneumonia

HILLARY

Purveyor of hate

Close the gun show loophole

End straw man purchases

TRUMP

That’s all very nice

But it’s wrong

 I’ll Jumpstart Manufacturing

HILLARY

Are you sure?

That doesn’t sound right.

Punish the gay marriage decenters

TRUMP

I don’t think you heard me right

You’re having a hard time tonight

Aren’t you?

HILLARY

I’m not going to contradict myself

A third grader understands

TRUMP

There’s no statute of

limitations on lies

Tell the truth

It’s easy

HILLARY

I’ll work for

Jobs and education

not jails and incarceration

TRUMP

You didn’t answer the question

Are you or are you not

For or against

HILLARY

He said about what I said,

After what I said about what he said

TRUMP

You have a tenuous relationship

with the truth

You always have

HILLARY

That’s a completely ridiculous answer

You’re just blowing hot hair

TRUMP

Undergird the insinuation

Terrorism counterterrorism

HILLARY

ev’ry time you say another crazy thing

Raise the minimum wage.

JOHNSON

Aleppo?

TRUMP

I fought the entire Washington establishment and won

I’m still here

HILLARY

Today

Fathers will say to their daughters

you too can be president

TRUMP

We must bind the wounds of division

Come together as united people

Carson

As one nation, under God

Pick up the baton of freedom and run

HILLARY

We stand together

Work together

With respect for our diff’rences

Strength in our convictions

Love for this nation

our best days are ahead

Star and stripes will wave high

God bless the United States of America

Jim