[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              RAISING CAIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KAGEN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Mr. KAGEN. Madam Speaker, this poem was written by Albert Carey 
Caswell, a member of the Capitol Guide Service in honor of SSG Michael 
Cain of Berlin, WI.
  Staff Sergeant Cain is a disabled veteran currently undergoing 
treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I met Staff Sergeant Cain 
at Walter Reed on November 18, 2008, while visiting another wounded 
soldier. I am proud and happy to submit this poem, written in his 
honor.

                              Raising Cain

     A young man lies face down . . .
     Right between life and death, as found . . .
     Clinging to life, as now . . . with one leg
           lost . . .
     When, we hear a sound . . .
     For it's his heart, as we watch what is lost, as now is found 
           . . .
     Which will not let him go, which will not let him down . . .
     As all inside of his fine soul, is so is now . . .
     As he raises his head up high, Raising
           Cain . . .
     As he brings such tears to eyes . . . as he astounds!
     What will we raise in these our days?
     To what heights and mountains, will we so climb?
     All in our lives and times . . .
     All in what we've so lost, and gained . . .
     All in that great heartache and pain, has made . . .
     To lie face down . . . upon battlefields of honor . . .
     As Michael you were bound . . .
     While, all in the midst of hell . . . as the dark evil lie 
           all around . . .
     As your fine heart so chose, so chose to swell . . . swell 
           somehow . . ..
     To cheat death, with what you have so
           left . . .
     All in uniform, so brilliant now . . .
     When right there, on that edge of death . . .
     As you so looked down . . .
     To see what you had so left . . .
     As your once strong leg was gone . . .
     As your life so hung in the balance now . . .
     As you were the one who so raised his
           head . . .
     Whose fine heart so began to pound!
     Raising Cain . . .
     His Daddy raised a Hero, his Momma did the same . . .
     All in their hearts of love, which now so remains!
     A Wisconsin Man . . .
     Who love's his Packers . . .
     County music, and his Momma understand!
     There's a lot of Brett in this man . . .
     And there's a lot more of Michael, in Brett which stands . . 
           .
     As a winner . . .
     And a simple man . . .
     Who wears his heart on his sleeve, time and again . . .
     With a heart of courage full . . .
     This American Jewel . . .
     Beating proud, for that old red white and blue . . .
     And most of all, he's a family man . . .
     As we watch, and see . . .
     All that a heart can be . . .
     As he fight's the good fight . . .
     As Michael's Raising Cain . . .
     Building where not lies left . . .
     As our world he'll bless . . .
     To come back from the dead . . .
     Back from that dark abyss, abyss of
           death . . .
     To go off to war . . .
     As one fine fighting machine sure . . .
     As an Army man . . .
     Who to courage ran . . .
     All in what he gave up . . .
     All in what he must endure . . .
     And if I ever raise a son . . .
     I but hope and pray . . .
     That he could but be, like this fine one . . .
     The kind who will teach us, who will reach us . . .
     Who to hearts will all so beseech us . . .
     All in how life is won . . .
     As Michael Cain, was raised this one . . .
       In honor of Michael Cain on your 27th birthday . . . your 
     friend Bert--Albert Carey Caswell  
     2008

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