[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23433]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record a poem written by Mr. Albert Carey Caswell. Mr. Caswell is a 
valued tour guide of the U.S. Capitol whose great enthusiasm and love 
of our country has inspired him to compose over 500 poems. Mr. Caswell 
wrote this poem in tribute to the remarkable life and work of our 
beloved late colleague Senator Ted Kennedy.
  The information follows.

                            Upon This Floor

     Upon this floor . . .
     From our forefathers so bore . . .
     A dream, for all our futures to ensure . . .
     Now in history, the world's greatest of all democracies . . .
     Upon this floor . . .
     For as the years have played out . . .
     The United States Senate, would so tout!
     Some of the greatest, from Clay, Calhoun to Webster no doubt 
           . . .
     Men of conscience and of faith, who would so debate . . .
     Who but in their hands, were but put our nation's future 
           fate.
     Upon this floor!
     Who all but for the greater good, did but all they could . . 
           .
     Giants one and all, who but heard our nation's call . . .
     Her call to public service, upon this floor . . .
     And now as the years have gone by . . .
     A new great, a new giant has so arrived . . .
     A name we now so utter with tear in eye . . .
     Edward M. Kennedy, who upon this floor spoke so eloquently!
     Whose word, was one to be cherished and respected!
     The most effective Senator, as John McCain expressed this!
     For legislation can be a blood sport . . .
     For only those of great heart and courage, will like lions 
           roar!
     And yet, in all that heat . . . it takes a leader who can 
           make minds meet!
     As was this man, so charming and sweet!
     And leave their most hallowed marks upon this floor . . .
     With Teddy's passing, I rise to state . . .
     Without objection, we have lost one of the truly greats!
     There will be no quorum call, or voice vote expected!
     Or a bill, for The President to sign . . . stating of such 
           perfection!
     For he, was A Man For All Seasons . . .
     Who knew how to debate, and more importantly how to reason!
     A giant among mere men, who with his principles would so 
           splendidly and steadfastly defend!
     Motivating women and men, with but his heart of a champion . 
           . .
     Time and time again, upon this floor . . .
     Ted, you are gone, but not forgotten . . .
     For history and heaven so holds a place, for the champions of 
           the downtrodden!
     For artists, who know how to so create . . . and legislate!
     Whether, with a voice of a lion making the Senate quake!
     Or like a fine surgeon, so delicately legislation you'd 
           manipulate . . .
     Yea, Teddy . . . Daniel Webster ain't got nothing on you!
     And in the Senate reception room . . .
     And upon this floor my son . . . history will you so view!
     One of the greatest who's who!
     Now, up in Heaven . . . it's the greatest of debates between 
           Daniel and you!

       In honor of and in memory of Senator Edward M. Kennedy--
     Albert Carey Caswell.

                          ____________________