[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW VERNON PURBAUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 2006

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a young friend 
of mine, Matthew Vernon Purbaugh. While Matthew does not reside in my 
district, he and I share a great love of the English language and a 
great respect of words in general.
  Matthew Purbaugh is an amateur published poet; his poem ``Noon'' 
appeared in the International Society of Poets' 2006 edition. He was 
awarded ``Outstanding Achievement in Poetry'' and Best Amateur Poet. 
Matthew was recently invited to submit a new work for ``Who's Who in 
American Poetry.''
  I share his poem ``Words'' with you today.

                                 Words

     What is it in a word
     That
     Can Stir the heart of men
     To bring them to do great and
     Courageous deeds?

     What is it about words.
     That,
     Let them have the power
     To topple empires of stone and steel?

     What is it about words,
     That
     Let them go deeper than the strongest bullet?

     What is it about words,
     That
     Let them hold sway over men
     More than their fate
     More than the point of a gun?

     What is in words?
     That
     Lets something we have created
     Hold sway over us, more than,
     Our deepest fears?
     And our greatest, Driving Desires?

                          ____________________