A Smooth Stone

About the Book

The poems contained in this book cover all aspects of the author’s life, his moods, his loves, his work, his love of nature, his patriotism and his moments of inspiration, in short his feelings and attitudes about everything. He is one of the “old school” writers who believes poetry should have rhythm and should rhyme, and most of his writings do, while at the same time capturing the feeling he wants to express. This is his second book of poetry. His first book, Different Ways on Different Days, was published in 2001. In both books he wrote from day to day to give air to his mood at any given time in his daily life. There were times when he was feeling happy, patriotic or just plain silly, and many of his writings reflect that. On each occasion, he poured out his feelings on paper. As a result, he has written verses to express almost any feeling, almost any occasion. So you, the reader, are invited to look through the pages. You will probably find one that fits your mood just right at any given time. The time of the writings range from mid 1970 to 1999.

About the Author

Lowell Mckinney was born on Tams Mountain in southern West Virginia on August 6, 1937. He experienced first-hand the rigors of hunger, poverty and near death as an “Urchin of Appalachia.” but his is a success story. Though at the time economically poor, he considers himself as environmentally and spiritually rich for having grown up in an awe-inspiring natural environment at the knee of a spiritually devout mother. He worked for a brief time on the Norfolk and Western Railroad during the close of the steam locomotive era, an experience that had great impact upon him. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1959. While in the Air Force, he took advantage of the tuition assistance programs provided by the Air Force. He spent many hours taking evening college courses, eventually achieving a Master’s Degree in education. He also succeeded in advancing through the ranks, capping off a 22-year career and retiring at the rank of Major, – a far cry from his Appalachian beginnings. His last tour in the Air Force was at Albrook Air Force Base in what was then the Panama Canal Zone. While there, Major McKinney taught Sunday school at the Base Chapel. After retirement from the Air Force, Major McKinney worked briefly at the Arctic Circle as an electronics technician on the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line. After that, he settled in the Philadelphia area and worked as a logistics engineer for General Electric, Computer Sciences Corporation and Marconi Corporation. He is now fully retired, and lives in West Chester, PA.