[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 92 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN T. JOHNS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2009

  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I submit the following 
poem for submission into the Congressional Record. It was written by 
Mr. Albert Carey Caswell, in memory of a fallen servicemember, a great 
father and a fine human being, Mr. Stephen T. Johns. It is also for his 
son who will carry his memory for the rest of his life, Stephen T. 
Johns, II. It is entitled, ``Hate is Hard.''

                              Hate Is Hard

     Hate is Hard...
     Oh how it makes me cry...
     When, I see all of those tears in your young child's eyes...
     Hate is Hard...
     As it takes all we have!
     To fight that battle, to so win that war... so all in time to 
           all hearts grab...
     Hate is Hard!
     As why was built, this temple... this shrine...
     To all hearts, to so remind...
     To remind us all, hate is hard... and what hope can find...
     To somehow, somewhere... so very deep down inside...
     To win this battle, to bring that light...
     Hate is Hard...
     Just look at those tears now in your child's eyes...
     This precious son, just like all those other ones...
     Who's beloved parents, who too have so died...
     All in this battle! All in this fight!
     `Oh, how it makes me cry!
     Hate is Hard...
     As it takes all of your might! To win that battle, that 
           fight!
     As why!
     In this place of remembrance, our Lord so placed Big John...
     With your warm heart so right...
     To so bring your light...
     For on that day you died...
     Was but shown, your last final act of love so inside...
     To this dark evil, not knowing it would so take your fine 
           life...
     And leave all of your love ones, in such heartache so far 
           behind...
     And leave his young son, so all alone...
     `Oh hate is hard... oh how it makes me moan!
     `Oh now the tears I find...
     As why throughout all these years...
     So many children, women, and men... have so died here!
     But, there is Hope! And there is Light!
     All in your image John, that you so left behind...
     And all in your son now so in time...
     As he will to grown up to be, just like you... his wonderful 
           Dad we'll find...
     As on each new day he will so us remind...
     Reminds us all, that hate is hard... but no match for the 
           light
     The kind that burned deep inside your father's most heroic 
           heart so bright!
     Goodness... Evil... Darkness... Light...
     As this battle rages on this night!
     Hate is Hard!
     But, only we can! So win this war! So win this fight!
     With such hearts of love, as big John's this night...
     Remember, on this Father's Day...
     As you bow down your head and pray...
     A little boy has lost his hero, his joy... all because of 
           evil's hate...
     As why, in this fine shrine of courage and faith...
     Our Lord God Big John so placed...
     Grow up now my fine son, just like your fine Dad...
     For your father's heard, inside of you... that you so have!
     For you were the greatest thing, he ever knew... ever had!
     And on this day, the Angel's up and heaven... they too cry...
     As they see those tears run down your eyes...
     As comes their gentle rain, to give you strength... to wash 
           away all of your pain...
     For on this day, up to heaven a new Angel does rise...
     And Angel's are much stronger, to fight through all those 
           lies...
     So my little boy, daddy's little man... now wipe away all of 
           those tears from your eyes...
     For your Father is up in heaven, watching over you day and 
           night...
     But Hate is Hard... and our journey long!
     And so, as this new day dawns...
     We must be strong!
     With hearts of faith, courage and love songs...
     Can we so right all of these wrongs!
     For Hate, is Hard!
     But, love and light... far more brighter burn.

                          ____________________