OPTION: SKIP REQUEST AND GO STRAIGHT TO POEM

Dear Mr. Jesson,

     I ran across your page by accident, and was touched by some of your poetry.  I'd like to request you to write a poem for my boyfriend, Shane.  My name is Sarah.  I'm a 20yr. old ski instructor for Vail, Colorado.  Shane is also 20, and will be 21 on April 20th.  I would like to give him the poem for his birthday.

• Why I want the poem written:

Well, Shane has always been the one good with words.  He writes poetry and likes Robert Frost.  I'm not very good about showing him how much I love him, especially not with words.

• Information about myself:

Like I said, I'm a ski instructor.  I have really long, red hair and green eyes.  I'm a perfectionist and a very quiet, reserved person.  Even so, I'm a bit of an egomaniac especially when it comes to my skiing, and I have a wild sense of humor.

• Information about the parties being written about:

Shane and I are both Christians, we occasionally go to church together, share a hymnal, and pretend to carry a tune.  We met when we were 16 at a 4-H dance.  He asked me to dance to "Neon Moon", a country song.  We became close friends in 4-H, and fell in love dancing with each other.  He's a cowboy, and loves country music, just as I do.  We've been dating for close to two years.  We've had a largely long-distance relationship while he was away at school last year.  I see him all the time now that he has moved back to Colorado.  I've been teaching him to ski this winter, and I was thrilled to hear he really loves it.  We really have a great time skiing together. 

• Relevant history:

We would like to be married when Shane gets out of school in a few years.  I wasn't sure about making that commitment until this winter.  Shane and I were going through his CD's.  Shane is a big fan of Chris Le Deux, and we were listening to Look At You, Girl.  Shane started to sing along, off-key,  and was looking right into my eyes, and the words touched me, and I started smiling and crying, and that's when I knew.  We're not engaged yet, but will be someday.

• Funny, sad or embarrassing moments:

Well, when we first started dating, about two years ago, we had stopped on the road to Burns.  We were kissing in his truck, and had the windows just barely steamed up.  A police car pulled up, lights flashing, sirens wailing, flashlight and everything, and asked, "Is there a problem son?".  Going home that evening, we both couldn't stop laughing.

Shane

I struggle to show you,

how much you mean to me,

thought these lines would be nice,

and a better place to be.

You've always been good with words,

and I know you like Robert Frost,

I'm pretty smart on the slopes,

but with poetry I'm kinda lost !

You've always been a cowboy,

and love a country tune,

and I'll always remember when we met,

we danced under a Neon Moon.

We've been dating for just two years,

although for some time we were apart,

separated by many miles,

joined together at the heart.

And when you get out of school,

then I would like to be your wife,

I want to do my time with you,

and for the rest of my life.

I wasn't sure I could make that step,

but I knew you was the one for me,

when you sang "Look At You, Girl "

beautifully, but a little off key !

And when all is said and done,

there is more said than done,

but Shane I just want you to know:

Honey, you are the one !

Copyright Allen Jesson :) 1999