Growing up Carolina

By Cora McKinnon

The title really speaks for itself. Its about growing up in a small town in the United States. It is about a little black girl and her family growing up in the shadows of a major golf resort. It is about the going on and colorful characters of her childhood. It speaks of her spirituality and her love of nature. It is of all the fond memories she has. Its like every little small town everywhere. Surely youve been there.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503529212

Cora McKinnon

Hi, y’all. Glad to meet you. I was born in a small community called T-Town in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The second oldest of four kids, I did a lot of babysitting and a lot of reading. Reading would take me places where my young mind could only dream of. I would read anything available, literally. I wrote my first poem at the tender age of fourteen after falling madly in love with a guy who was never home. I then discovered that I loved to write as much as I loved to read, and the rest, as they say, is history. My name is Cora Lee McKinnon. I am a single Christian lady who has been blessed with a son and five wonderful grandsons. I live in Moore County of North Carolina. I’ve lived in Northern Virginia; Marion, Virginia; and Pulaski, Virginia, but I love North Carolina. It is my home.

Book preview

Bumble Bees

Black and yellow insects

bigger than my thumb

Foolish enough to chase them

they kept us on the run

They really didn’t bother us

we were the antagonist

They’d dart from hole to hole

barely avoiding our sticks

It was just a game to us

We rarely caused any harm

We did more miss than hit

Wearing out our little arm

One day one got too close

Bro swore he wouldn’t miss

When the screaming had stopped

Bro had hit li’l sis

Mom took the stick he’d held

and started to give chase

He promised ma right then

No more time on bees he’d waste

Frog City

Back behind the house

Was a very small creek

With a million frogs

And a handful of snakes

There were no fish

at least none to eat

Frogs ate the minnows

it was fun to see

Our science class at school

was never without

Down at the creek

there were frogs all about

The creek bed dried

and the frogs went away

The snakes multiplied

they were there to stay

Every time i see a frog

I think about that creek

and how the bigger creatures

take advantage of the weak

Hogs Running Wild

Sure he has a pen

but he’s hardly ever in it

He’d rather run the woods

chasing squirrel and rabbit

If you want him home

just shout Suey! Suey!

Keep eyes and ears open

here he comes a running

He knows where he belongs

he’s protective of his sty

He’ll do a full charge at

any animals passing by

He just loves to wander

you can hardly keep him penned

Especially with that ole sow

living round the bend

He doesn’t like confinement

It’s simply not his style

He’ll rest in his enclosure

but only for a while

He doesn’t want parts of him

hanging in the barn

I’d bet that it’s the reason

he’s always on the run

Mr. Cock

I’d like to meet that rooster

He who crows throughout the day

From early morning to dusk

I can hear him down the way

He must be large and masterful

As he struts through his domain

Cavorting with the blushing hens

Be it sunshine or rain

I’d like to meet that rooster

His comb’s his pride and glory

I’d like to meet that rooster

I’d like to hear his story

If I could meet that rooster

I’d say Mr. Cock is your name

And be as thrilled as he

That he wasn’t wild game

I’d like to meet that rooster

And maybe someday I will

But I know I’ll always hear him

He reigns just over that hill

My Friend The Frog

How happy must the

Bullfrog be

Just listen every morn

Not only does he

Sing to me

But he fills the whole world with song

What makes him sing?

So joyously

Has he no complaint

Who’s blessed his life?

So secretly

And restored him in the night

He hops around his

Lake all day

From his pad into the water

He sits there with that

Darting tongue

Snagging food for his partner

I don’t envy that

Ole fellow

I certainly admire

His spirit

Cause when he sings

His song each morn

He puts his whole little body in it

The Frog’s Song

Fra yug ug ug is what I listen

for each day

Fra yug ug ug will soon be heard

from across the way

It is a praise and a greeting

For God did grant him life

It is a joy expressed for

Another day of life

Fra yug ug ug can be heard as

the sun is going down

Fra yug ug ug is chorused

In marshy froggy town

What a glorious day they sang

God’s blessed us thru His might

And thus we sing our praises

To give thanks throughout the night

Fra yug ug ug! Fra yug ug ug!

The June Bug

Thinking back on when we were kids

Remembering the good and bad things we did

We never had much in the way of money

I can recall dining on bread and honey

Mom didn’t work and our dad was gone

The welfare made sure that we had a home

No TV or even a bike to ride

We didn’t go begging, t’was a matter of pride

Store bought toys came once a year

And those we’d hold very dear

We loved each other and that’s a fact

Mom struggled to keep the family intact

Eventually we all went our separate ways

We have our own thoughts of the good old days

They were good for me and I’ll never forget

The many June bugs we had as pets

For those of you not in the know

You tie a thread to his leg and watch him go

Flying around and around

No place to go

The Junk Yard Dog

Oh he’s sneaky one

he is

Why is his chain so long

If he starts this way

See Ya! I’m gone

What’s he protecting

over there

Something more than

his yard

His master chose

him well

He’s a fierce but loyal