"WOW that is amazing. Truly beautiful. I cant wait to give it to him."

When you want to say "I miss you", A Gift of Poetry says it all (and a lot more). Completed in August 2010, here's a great example of just what can be achieved….

What is your name ? Sarah (name changed)
 
Who do you want the poem written for ? My boyfriend, Jimmy (name changed)
 
Why do you want the poem written ? As a gift for Jimmy to take away with him. He always asks me why I miss him when he works away and why I like him so much because he doesnt see the things in himself that I see.
 
What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.) ? Heartfelt but can be cheeky
 
Please choose which package you would prefer ? deluxe
 
Would you like a copy of the handwritten drafts ? no
 
What are the key messages you would like to send ? This is a new beginning for both of us after both recently coming out of long term relationships. I have only known Jimmy for 6 months and already we have moved in together. As cliché as it sounds when you know you have met the person you want to share the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start now. Jimmy has two daughters, Karen and Stephanie, I want to let him know I think his girls are amazing. I can see so much of him in his girls. His girls have also opened my eyes to experiencing new things. I wanted to thank him for letting me be part of his life and that I have NEVER been so happy. Lately Jimmy has been working away in Murrin Murrin, a very isolated mine. We have hardly seen each other and I miss him so much. In the last 2 months I have only seen him for a few days. I have never missed someone as much as I have missed him. Yet talking to him on the phone at night is so wonderful and I am so happy when I get to speak to him. He means the world to me and I just don’t ever want to be without him.
 
Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share ? Jimmy and I met on the internet on a dating site. Jimmy’s ex sister in law set him up on the dating site and we chatted online one night….which I later found out it was his daughter I was talking to not him!! We have never told any of our friends or family we met on a dating site, we always say we met on down at the beach. After speaking briefly on the phone we decided to meet and he took me of all places to Pure Grunt! (Pure Grunt is a car performance workshop, not very romantic) He took me there to show me his car he had there. Jimmy has a Holden Calais with a big V8 engine in it, over 400 hp. Anyway, so he took me there, showed me his tattoos and revved the engine on his car and I was hooked.  As I was driving away he ran up to the car and I wound down the window and he said….. your smokin hot! A statement he couldn’t believe he said later on. But still it was flattering. Jimmy and I share a love of cars so I love him taking me out in his cars and just driving around for hours together. 6 months on after that meeting we have been inseparable ever since. Everyone keeps saying to me its too soon to be involved with someone but we just cant stay away from each other. Last week Jimmy and I moved in together to a farm on 5 acres in the bush. Both of us lived by the beach and have now moved to the bush. It is the most beautiful property. It is the kind of property when you come home you just feel instantly at peace and relaxed. We needed the room to fit our 4 dirt bikes, jet ski, 4 cars and 4 dogs! So lucky this place has a MASSIVE shed where he can play or just stare at all his toys. There are huge gum trees all over the property (his daughter and I put up a hammock in the trees last weekend) and beautiful grassed areas. We have the kookaburras waking us up at 6.30am every morning. We have a pond with huge koi fish and marron. We sit on the bench by the pond during the day and sometimes in the dark late at night and feed the fish, chat about the day and admire the view or just cuddle up. I love walking through the bush collecting wood for the fire with him and the dogs. Im still learning to light the fire and all I seem to end up with are splinters in my fingers. Jimmy bought a flash red ride on lawn mower to mow all the grass with and I love burning around on that. It is so much fun. I thought that if I could learn to drive the mower I would be one step closer to being able to ride one of his dirt bikes. But no, I still need more practise. One night Jimmy decided to demonstrate how secluded our property is by doing a nudie run around the property. Little did he realise I locked him out  I started doing Zumba classes and I love it! Its great. Jimmy loves it when I get my Zumba clothes on.
 
Do you have any other comments or thoughts ? I wanted to thank him for taking me camping in Harvey. I have been on holidays all over the world all over Europe and Asia and I said to my parents when I came back, that was the best holiday I have ever had. He taught me to experience things I never had before such as camping and dirt bike riding. The other couples we went camping with all could ride dirt bikes except me so Jimmy arranged with the local shop to borrow an automatic 4 wheeler quad bike for me to ride so I wouldn’t feel left out. I love looking after Jimmy and I want to take care of him and be the girl that he deserves to have. Like I have said to him, I think he is so wonderful and I have told him he ticks all of my boxes. He always says to me how lucky he is to be with a 27 year old pole dancer (can you please make mention of that, it is a saying he always says). I did pole dancing for fitness and he keeps telling his friends he is with a 27 year old pole dancer and I keep telling him off because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea!! Jimmy is 11 years older than me but it never feels that way. I am the one who has trouble keeping up with him, he is so active and never sits still even for a minute. I just don’t know how I can communicate how much he means to be and how much I love being around him. He is just perfect.

 
The Dancer's Plan
 
Jimmy, I know you're going away again,
sadly, my love is going down some distant mine, 
and you want to know why I miss you so, well,
that's the reason I've written this heartfelt line.
 
Because I know you don't see things like I do,
no, you don't see the magic in yourself that I see,
but I did just want to thank you for being you, to
say 'thanks' for making my world a great place to be.
 
I know that this is a new beginning for both of us,
but after only 6 months we are already sharing our 'pad',
and I know it sounds cliched to say this right now, but
when you know, you know, you have found the best lover you've ever had.
 
But much more than that, oh yes, so much more, for
you are exactly how I want to spend the rest of time,
and I want the rest of time to start right now, for surely,
at last, I have found the joy, the reason in my rhyme.
 
I also want you to know, I think your girls are amazing!
Yes, Karen and Stephanie are the spit of you, so be proud,
I can see so much of you in your girls, just so much goodness,
and I really want to sing their praises, right out loud!
 
Because they have opened my eyes to experiencing new things,
and I want to thank you all for letting me be part of your life,
for the record, I have NEVER been this happy, not once, no,
thanks to you, I have forgotten my woes, trouble and strife.
 
But lately, you've been working away in Murrin Murrin,
so isolated, that they had to name it not once, but twice,
we have hardly seen each other and I miss you so much,
but when we speak on the phone, I must admit, it is rather nice.
 
Actaully, it's really magical, truly, truly wonderful,
because I have never missed anyone as much as you,
just know that I am so happy when you're on the phone, to me,
you mean the world and without you, I wouldn't know what to do.
 
Look, we've come a long way from that dating site,
but thank goodness for the Internet, that's what I say,
even though you don't really know who you're chatting to,
nor just who you'll meet on a 'beach', when friends ask away.
 
Now, Pure Grunt was not exactly a romantic start,
but once I had seen your tattoos, I was hooked,
and when you told me that I was 'smoking hot', well,
I knew then that we'd started a new chapter, in a new book.
 
I know you can't believe you said "smoking hot",
I must admit, it's one of the cheekiest lines I have heard,
but then again, they say that flattery will get you everywhere,
and now I can't wait for you to call and hang on your every word.
 
Actually, we both share a love of cars and there's
nothing I love more than to drive around, for hours on end,
for after just 6 months together, we are inseperable,
as I know I am spending time with my lifelong friend.
 
Everyone said to me it's too soon to be involved,
but I know, we just can't stay away from each other,
you have found your 27 year old pole dancer. Me?
I have found my one and only. My lifetime lover.
 
Because I truly love our five acres in the bush,
sod the beach! This is the most idyllic place on Earth,
mind you, 4 dirt bikes, a jet ski, 4 cars and 4 dogs,
yes, you start to appreciate what real space is worth!
 
And of course, you have your massive shed,
it's where you can play or just stare at your toys,
but then again, you've got the room to run around naked,
(sorry for locking you out, girls will be girls, boys will be boys).
 
I must make mention of the huge gum trees we now have,
as there is now a beautiful hammock, strung between a pair,
and then there are the kookaburras waking us up in morning,
then there's the pond, the grass, but some things are just not fair.
 
If they were, I'd now be a qualified firelighter and dirt bike rider,
but the splinters and patchy grass means more practice I fear,
but then again, I love our time by the pond and walking the dogs,
to be honest, I don't mind what we do, as long as you're near.
 
Mind you, Zumba is definitely my new thing and
I know that you love it when I get my Zumba clothes on,
and I also wanted to thank you for taking me camping,
Europe? Asia? No, Harvey is the place where it really goes on.
 
I said to my parents, that was the best holiday I'd ever had,
and you taught me to experience things I'd never known before,
(and thanks for borrowing that 4 wheeler quad bike for me),
and don't worry, I want to spend my life evening up the score.
 
Because I really do love looking after you,
and I want to take care of you and be your girl,
and that girl should be the one you deserve to have, so,
I'm sure you won't mind if I give that pole one more twirl?
 
Because Jimmy, you really do tick all of my boxes,
you may be a little older, but it just doesn't feel like that,
I'm the one who has trouble keeping up with the hyperactive you,
but don't worry, this pole dancer is not ready to hang up her hat.
 
As I'm not sure I've communicated how much you mean to me.
perhaps I haven't clearly, told you just how wonderful you are, 
just know that if my love for you were a distance, well,
it'd be twice around the pond and beyond the furthest star.
 
For I simply, truly, honestly, love being around you,
you are just perfect. Yes, Jimmy. You are my perfect man,
so just know that you're hot, in fact, smoking hot and that
loving you for the rest of time, is this dancer's plan.

Copyright Allen Jesson 2010
www.agiftofpoetry.com

'Sarah' kindly replied:

"WOW that is amazing. Truly beautiful. I cant wait to give it to him. He leaves again tomorrow so it worked out perfectly. I attached some pictures of our property too."

ED: Names changed by request…

After 7 years of marriage, you've probably got a lot to say to each other. Melissa certainly did. What with a new baby and her husband surviving cancer, this 7th anniversary gift had more meaning than most. Melissa has kindly given her permission for me to publish her gift and story. So, I'll let Melissa take it from here:

What is your name ? Melissa

Who do you want the poem written for ? My husband, Shaun

Why do you want the poem written ? Its our 7th wedding anniversary

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.) ? Happy, optimistic, joyful

Please choose which package you would prefer ? economy

What are the key messages you would like to send ? In the past year my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Throughout his surgeries and treatments Shaun has remained positive and confident he will be healthy again. Now two surgeries later, we are very optimistic that he will be cured. This past year also brought us the biggest joy of our life, our son, Bryce. So in this year of turmoil, Bryce has been absolutely amazing.

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share ? Shaun and I met when I was showing off my basketball skills while wearing heals and a dress at a party. The skills have been passed on to Bryce, at 1 year old he already has some impressive basketball skills. Shaun sings to Bryce but he is horrendously bad. Its so funny it makes Bryce laugh. Do you have any other comments or thoughts ? This past year has brought us closer to family emotionally and in physical location. I think we have an amazing family together and look forward to spending the next 50 years with him.

Let's Make It

Shaun, I wanted to get you something special,

something treasured, precious, that sort of thing,

because you have been the sparkle in my life, yes,

you've proven the gold, in this, our wedding ring.

And I simply wanted to say "I love you",

but in truth, I didn't really know where to start,

so I thought I'd share a few feelings and

give you some words (straight from the heart).

Look, I know it has been a very difficult year,

but hey! Who says that life is a rose filled dream?

But through all the surgeries and the treatments,

we battled on (and proved to the world, our team).

Actually, you've been my hero, so stoic, so brave,

and you have remained positively confident all along,

you seem to know that in that thought is the cure,

the hope, the rainbow, our future. No, you're not wrong.

Because that future has been made immeasureably brighter,

I think of you and Bryce and my chest swells with pride,

as I know he couldn't have chosen a finer father, no,

I know he couldn't – even if he'd tried!

They say that the phoenix rose out of the ashes,

well, we were given such joy, in the turmoil of our life,

and Shaun, I just wanted to say "I'm proud of you", yes,

indeed, I am very proud to be called "your wife".

Look, we've come a long way my slinky basketball skills,

grandly showing off at a party, in high heels and a dress,

and even though the road has been a little rocky at times,

I know that we are destined for a lifetime of happiness.

I also wanted to thank you for all of your patient editing,

as well you know, I'm no writer, a post doc is what I am,

but I know we have big plans and hopes for the future

and I'm sure all your hard work will pay off in your bar exam.

No arguments! You're also an excellent debater,

so you'll make a great lawyer, make no mistake,

but in 7 years of marriage, I'm yet to win a disagreement,

look, I know we don't argue, but can you give a girl a break?

But there's no denying my own court skills have been passed onto Bryce,

he is certainly good at dribbling, as you sing, so out of tune,

actually, your noteless warbling makes both of us laugh so much,

yes, I can't see your singing career ending any day soon.

Because this past year has brought us closer together,

as a couple, as a family, emotionally and physically,

and Shaun, I just wanted to thank you for being you, yes,

I wanted to say thanks for making my world a great place to be.

And I also wanted to say Happy 7th Anniversary,

as I think that we have an amazing family, together,

and I look forward to spending the next 50 years with you,

did I say fifty? Scratch that. Let's make it, forever and ever.

Copyright Allen Jesson 2010

www.agiftofpoetry.com

After the first draft, Melissa replied:

"Wow! This is great. I really appreciate all your effort and you even got the first draft to us in time for our anniversary.  Shaun was really pleased! The first few years that we dated and were married Shaun would write poems and stories for me for our anniversary.  They were always funny and played off of what ever was happening in our lives at that time.  I have tried to repay the favor since I thought they were the best gifts, but my poems always came up short.  So finally I was able to give him a special present to represent my love for him.  So Thank you very much. There are a couple of things I would like modified.  The stanza about looking skyward and blessings, Shaun and I are not religious nor do we believe heaven is a place up above.  Could we remove it? Also in reference to the future, we have big plans or at least hopes for what is to come.  Shaun is taking the bar exam at the end of this month so we are hoping all his hard work and studying pays off. Other tidbits about us: he loves golf, I am a scientist and he doesn't understand much that I do. But since he is a great writer, he often edits my writing (for grammar, not content.)  He's an excellent debater and will make a great lawyer; in 7 years of marriage I have yet to win a disagreement.  I say disagreement instead of argument, because we really do not argue. We really are perfect for each other and keep that in mind with something little is irksome.  You don't have to use all of this, but its here if you feel inspired.  Thank you again so much.  This really is a wonderful gift and I'm glad I found you. As for publishing, you have my permission to publish any and all of the poem with our names if you wish. Melissa"

We went to a couple more drafts (the final you see above). Upon receipt, Melissa likndly replied:

"Thank you! This is perfect. You really did a wonderful job. Melissa"