Story of My Life in Poetry and Prose

By Xlibris US

Story of My Life in Poetry and Prose is the life story of author, Terrence L. Johnson-Cooney told in poetry and prose from his very poor beginning, abandoned at birth by his father and the death of his beloved mother when he was only twelve. The abuse by his step-father, who always called him stupid and dumb. As a teenager he moved in with his grandparents. There through hardwork and determination he graduated from high school.

Told by many that he was not college material, Terrence went to Clarion State College in Pennsylvania and graduated. At age 21 he located his father in Butte, Montana. Continuing with his education he earned a master degree. He taught English and Public Speaking at the high school level. Terrence has researched and written several books on his family genealogy. His poems have appeared in several publications. A great example of no matter how bad your start in life was with hard work and determination you can be what you want to be.

At age 11 his first poem was published in the school newspaper. His poetry reflects his adventures during his many European trips to the homes of his ancestors. Poetry is a power tool by which the author can share his feelings with others who relate to the ups and downs that life brings you. Through poetry and prose he will take the reader on a trip from childhood through old age. Enjoy your trip through these pages as you cry, laugh, and remember your own life's joys and sorrows.
JUST PASS'N THRU

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499010763

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Terrence Johnson-Cooney.

Library of Congress Control Number:        2014907941

ISBN:                  Hardcover                           978-1-4990-1073-2

                            Softcover                             978-1-4990-1070-1

                            eBook                                  978-1-4990-1076-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 05/07/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

609296

ORDER OF ALL

POEMS AND PROSE

FOREWORD

DEDICATION

LAST CHANCE

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

SPELLING DISCLAIMER

PART 1

UGLY IN THE CRADLE

EILEEN

DEATH—1949 & REALIZATIONS

ADDITIONS

GONE AWAY & AUF WIEDERSEHEN

MY VISIT & A BAT

CHILD ABUSE & MUM CAME HOME

TWICE AS MUCH & INCONSIDERATE

WET NOODLE & SAUERKRAUT

FETCH ME A POKE

KINDERGARTEN & CLOUDS

FLYING

WHAT IS LOVE

FAMILY TREE

FREE FOOD & AFRAID & CLOTHES

HIDDEN & FLYING SNAKES

BLACK SHEEP & A JOKE & TRAIN WHISTLE

DOOR WAY & CALL FIRST & MAKE ME PROUD

COWBOY & FALLING LEAVES

CHILDHOOD

THE NEIGHBORS

LITTLE IRELAND

A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

THE STICK & POOR BOY

RUNAWAY & 14 EGG CAKE

BIRTHDAY CAKE 1959

MY TWELVE YEARS MOTHER WORDS AND ADVICE

A VOICE & HAD HER WISH

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

GROW UP & THE FUNERAL PARLOR

A TRIP TO THE CEMETERY

13TH BIRTHDAY & BIRTHDAY CAKE—1960

TEDDY BEAR & WHO DO WE CRY FOR

BUTTERFLIES & HOUSE

MEMENTOS

ORPHANED & FATHER’S FAMILY & FORGIVE

BUBBLES & END MY LIFE & VISITORS BOOK

GOOD-BYE & STUPID BIG BABY

THE CAMERA & BIKE ACCIDENT

THEY’RE ALL DEAD & HAY—SUMMER OF 1964

WITHOUT WORDS & 1965

JEALOUSY

PART 2

THE PURPLE LADY & CHURCH BELLS

UNCLE JAY’S BIRTHDAY PARTY & CRUMBLED UP CAKE

THE JOHNSON SIDE OF THE FAMILY

HAZEL’S DEATH

AUNT BERDEAN LAFFERTY RAMSEY

GRANDPA JOHNSON DIES

IN RETROSPECT

NOT LONG AGO

GONE AWAY

PATCHWORK & GUESS WHAT?

WAR IS HELL & WOUND

FALLING STARS & AUNT JANE BERLIN

DOWN ON THE FARM

WHERE WERE YOU… WHEN

HIGH SCHOOL CLASS RING AND SENIOR PICTURES & MAGICIANS

A NEW BEGINNING

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT & SELF LOVE

DEPARTURE & SECRETS

FLOATING

THE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

SCREAMING WOMAN

CLARION STATE COLLEGE ROOMMATE & RED UP

LOIS ANN & FLASH & JUST WE TWO

EAST MEETS THE WEST

FORGIVE ME SON & NEVER SEEN THE MAN

DILLON MONTANA & YOU’NS

YOU DANCE & COMPUTER CLASS & I SAW

WATCH & OLD TIME TICKER

LIFE & ALONE AGAIN

THANKSGIVING IN GEORGIA 1980

CELEBRATION OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS

DECEMBER 1986

IF I COULD BE

PIE & EATING & JOY

ROOM FULL OF HONEY

GRANDMA MARY BROWN

A DREAM

IDENTITY—IRISH CONNECTION

ODE TO JOYCE

MARSHALL FIELDS

CHICAGO & WHAT COLOR AM I?

SPRING 1978

CHICAGO NEWSPAPER & I MET A MAN

PART 3

ALLEY IN CHICAGO & OAK PARK—MAN DEAD

AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP

VEHICLE OF CHANGE & TRAIN CRASH

FIRST HOUSE—FIRST HOME FRIDAY 13, 1985 & HALF CRAZY & GONE

GLAD MAN

LITTLE HOUSE & NO LONGER

CELEBRATION OF A 35 YEAR OLD

SQUEAKY SHOES

RODEO & 20TH SCHOOL REUNION

WHY MY NAME IS?

IF I WERE A COW

LET’S TALK

HERITAGE… LOST

AUNT MARY’S HANDS

BACK TO MONTANA AND YOU

DEMOLITION & DECEMBER 1989 & DREAMS

MAMA’S TUB

STARS SHINNING UPSIDE DOWN

TAXES & BELIEVE

DEAD END CAROUSEL OR MIDLIFE CRISIS

WHITE BOY & THE OLD WORLD ATLAS

SEA LINK & WEXFORD, IRELAND

OLD STONE TOWERS & IN DUBLIN & NO TAILS

WRONG FOOT & BIRTHDAY IN SCOTLAND

HILLTOP

CALTON HILL

SHALOM & BY THE SEA

DOWN FROM EDINBURGH SCOTLAND

RED POPPIES & YORK

FRENCH TOWN

FORGET-ME-NOTS

THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA & RAMBLING ROSE

THE MARY ROSE 1510-1545

THE MARY ROSE SOCIETY & MARGARET THATCHER & BRITISH RAILS

FATHER COONEY

A CHRISTMAS WISH

A TALE OF THREE… FRONT PORCHES

ILLNESS & MY PANTS MAN

WHAT TIME IS… TOMORROW?

REFLECTIONS

WHY I’M A POET

THE END

FOREWORD

This book is the life story of my dear friend, Terrence L. Johnson-Cooney told in poetry and prose. From his very poor beginning, abandoned at birth by his father and the death of beloved mother when he was only twelve. The abuse by his step-father, who always called him stupid and dumb. As a teenager he moved in with his grandparents. There through hard work and determination he graduated from high school. Told by many that he was not college material. Terrence went to Clarion State College in Pennsylvania and graduated. Continuing with his education he earned a master degree. Taught English and Public Speaking at the high school level.

Terrence has researched and written several books on his family genealogy. His poems have appeared in several publication. A great example of no matter how bad your start in life was with hard work and determination you can be what you want to be.

At age 11 his first poem was published in the school newspaper. Poetry is a power tool by which the author can share his feelings with others who relate to the up’s and down’s that life brings you. Through poetry and prose he will take the reader on a trip from childhood through old age. Enjoy your trip through these pages as you cry, laugh and remember your own life’s joys and sorrows.

Richard E. Schnur

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the following people who have encouraged me to write. Richard E. Schnur, Alan Richey, Karen Camp Drone, Dorothy Meier Dittman, Joan Fiesler, Darlene Whitling Fasenmeyer and my Sister Penny Johnson Patterson Haynoski.

To my Mother Eileen Dittman Cooney Johnson who told me always make her proud, I believe I have.

To my special friends—Tammy Fye Goble, Tish Cook, Aunt Penny Richey Hanson, Margareth Diagh, and Greg Clark. Thank you all for your help in my life’s path. I appreciate all that you have done.

To all of my 13 half-brothers and sisters. If variety is the spice of life—then I have had a great Mixture.

LAST CHANCE

This is the last chance I have Of being read before I am dead.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

To—James, Shirley and Terry Lee Dittman thank you for planning, drawing and painting my Apple Alley B& B Sign. This sign was a special gift from you three.

To Ida Mae Dittman Henry and a special friend, Attossa Henry. Thanks for making sure I had enough to eat at college. Aunt Ida Mae, thanks for always making the best chocolate cake just for me.

To Aunt Dot Dittman, thank you for all the talks we used to have until 1:00 a.m. in the morning. We discussed life and it’s problems. Thank you for wanting to read what I wrote.

To Richard Schnur for typing this book.

To Wayne and Alberta Richey—Thanks for being like a father and mother to me when I lived in Illinois. Alberta was a great cook!

To Richard Doering thanks for turning my photo’s into pen and ink drawings.

To the Sisters of The Poor of Chicago. Thank you for having me to volunteer to teach adults how to read. I did this for 3 wonderful years.

To the Springfield, Illinois Big Brothers and Big Sisters—Thank you for recruiting me to volunteer to be a Big Brother for four years. My little brother went to college and became a Minister and got married. I’m happy for the time I spent.

SPELLING DISCLAIMER

Please be advised that my sometimes original spelling is the mark of a creative individual mind.

PART 1

UGLY IN THE CRADLE

It was the night of the 27th of June 1947 when Mother received her first born. A little boy, not the red headed girl she had prayed for. I was a dark haired image of a troubled runaway Father. Bloody, blue and bruised, an ugly defenseless boy baby was born. Mother looked at me and cried… she looked alone and scorned. "Look Mum, at this