"Allen, This poem is for Valentine’s day. So the card and stuff should be red heart etc. Let me tell you though, the words you wrote are as if we were talking the entire time you wrote it. It’s wonderful not a thing needs to be changed. I know she will love it so much. Thank you, Billie"

"Look forward to hearing from you and thanks again for your gift of poetry that only a select few have. It is so good to find an honest and sincere website and we are grateful for having found you."

"Allen, That is perfect just the way it is. I couldn't have wrote it out any better than that. LOL As for using the poem on your web-site I would be honored and keep the names the same because I want every one to know my true love for my wife. The card I have selected is the Hearts. The verse for the front is

"I thank the Lord above for giving you to me,
your deep, enduring love is a precious gift indeed,
for with you in my life, by my side, I am rich, yes,
with you as my wife, I have all, I'll ever need."

The choice of quality paper with nice backgrounds is the Single Rose. Thanks Jeff"

"My aunts commented that I did a good job, but then again, they are my aunts. Your line about possibly getting "revenge" got big laughs - that is a good one. As for me, I am very happy that you provide this service. I am not all that comfortable with public speaking. I'm OK if I have something fully prepared. Spontaneous speaking...improvisation...is not something that I can do. And so as I was preparing my speech, I was having trouble coming up with the right words to say. You really did help me say what I've always wanted to say to my dear brother. Thank you, Gloria.

One of my old customers (from 2006) just got in touch:

"Hello! I pray you are still doing this wonderful work, please let me know..Thank you Rosie Carrillo Quesada"

I replied: "Yes, of course, 14 years on, still going strong..."

Rosie replied:"Great ! I got a good one for you. The same girls, one of them is making me a grandma ...I'm so overwhelmed with it. Its not my first grand baby but my first from my daughter. And its a girl. Can you do the same? Ill send you the details and do your magic. We still have the first framed n hung it still brings tears. Rosie"

And here's the original A Gift of Poetry from 2006....it's a lovely story and worth reading right to the very end...

To Deserve The Honor

Ladies and gentlemen,
can I have your attention please?
Because every now and then in life,
there's opportunity you should seize.

And that moment is upon us,
after all, the twins are now sweet sixteen,
and I want to explain what they mean to me,
talk about the times to come, the times that've been.

I'll begin by saying that they are gorgeous girls,
I'd do it all over but a little slower another time,
because yes, they have their imperfections,
I guess that's one of the reasons for this rhyme.

You see, I've been blessed and yet I've been cursed,
because they're spoilt, conceited, yes, a real handful,
they can make someone feel great, they can also destroy,
with just a look, no, with them, my life is never dull.

They are the envy of most and the leaders of all,
and as I say this, I think I'm the worst mom in the world,
but Yvonne and Yvette, you're now sweet sixteen, and,
slowly, as the nest crumbles, your wings become unfurled.

And I want you to fly true, straight and honestly,
that's why I struggle so to keep you both on track,
because if there's one thing that I've learned in this life,
well, clocks go the one way, you can't turn them back.

So, I don't want you to remember me as the killjoy lady,
or the woman who stops you doing all that you love to do,
but I want you to know, I was sixteen once, yes, indeed,
that was the age when I gave birth to the pair of you.

I was alone and scared with no place to run,
but we came through and yes, we all survived,
and out of that struggle came character and compassion,
yes, the forge of life means that you've both thrived.

I remember how you'd follow me every where,
even to the bathroom, I had two kids in tow,
we sang, you loved to sing, before you even talked,
but there are a few other things that you should know:

When you were born I remember making a solemn vow,
I vowed that I'd make sure you never went through what I did,
but everyone has made me feel so guilty for our lives,
so there you have it, my feelings are no longer hid.

Now I feel like my babies are being taken away from me,
you girls run to others because they give you an easy way out,
you don't suffer at all, not even for your own mistakes,
and I tell you, that's not what life is all about.

Because it is a learning process, step by step,
and if you skip a class then next time, it's a higher fall,
but you will find, that in your life, you are in charge,
it's your hand, yes, ultimately, it's always your call.

And I'll never forget August 31, 1990,
Yvonne was born and the pain stopped right away,
I was a mother and she looked just like me,
she was going to me a "Super Me" and never stray.

Then the pain came again, just six minutes later,
and Yvette announced she'd landed on planet Earth,
she was so beautiful, I was blessed, twice, yes, twice,
look girls, I do know your true and honest worth.

I was the luckiest person alive for your first twenty minutes,
and then it sunk in that yes, sadly, we were all alone,
I started to cry but a nurse stopped me with her words,
and she's been proven right over the years, as you've grown.

You see, I knew what she said was so perfectly right,
I realized you weren't my curse but instead my saving grace,
I was going to make your lives worth far more than mine, yes,
you gave me worth, you made my world a much finer place.

People looked up to me saying she's doing all that alone,
in truth, I got my strength from you girls, you kept my head up high,
I took my medication, I could do it all and I did, and now,
to be honest, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Because I wanted you both to be stronger, to be better,
and you are, I don't see no loser people here tonight,
you are a better version of me, I'm proud to be your mother,
in my life, when it was dark, you brought resplendent light.

Some people have said that I've enclosed you in my own world,
but let me tell you, they've never ever heard us sing,
no one knows how we did it, just me and my girls,
we have such a bond, even though it's a love hate thing.

But we will always know that our love is strong,
and we've always known that we've got each other,
that nurse was right, I must have done something great,
"to deserve the honor of being these pretty girls mother".

Copyright Allen Jesson :) 2006-2011
www.agiftofpoetry.com

"Hi! Allen It's AWESOME!!! thanks for a very wonderful poem. While reading it, feels like I am the one who wrote that poem because its too personal. You are not only a poetic genius but one with a big heart. Thank you so much for being so understanding. Thanks, Vinny"

"Hi Allen: I just wanted to let you know my package arrived today. BEAUTIFUL!!!! I can't wait till the wedding to read the poems and present my daughter and new son-in-law with this very special gift of poetry! I will certainly refer you (your web-site) and Vicki to everyone when they ask about it. Kathy"

"Hi Allen, Oh My Lord, I Love it. I'm choked up and this is exactly what i was feeling. Thank you so much, I will be calling on you for a lot of other occasions too. You are truly gifted. Thank you so much Tony"

"Allen, I think we have it, that is perfect.I really do want to thank you for helping me put the words together for what is a very sad time for us, and I'm more than happy for you to put your work and the story on your website. Craig" (funeral poems)

"Hi Allen, I had you write a poem for me sometime back for a first wedding anniversary - which was brilliant. I was wondering if you could help me again please. This time it is a different situation, and I only have a few days so it might be impossible. My brother recently passed away and I would like to dedicate a poem - The funeral is Friday though - is there anyway you could help? Even if at this stage you only emailed me a copy and the rest was done later. Kind Regards Craig"

"Hi Allen everything looks great and its a very nice poem. But if you do publish it on your web site just change the names please. Thank you. Talk to you soon."

(Please follow the link to see this 3rd Anniversary Gift).

Just want to tell you what a hit your poem was. I moved my daughter to tears and she couldn't believe that it was written especially for her. Thank you again for your help with this! Cindy Wheaton

Perfect! : ) Again, I love it.. I love it! I get weepy just reading it.......What do you suggest for the tag? Since it was her wedding, do you think something like........to my daughter with love on her wedding day?. With all my love......Momba (yes Momba..... again.... endearing nickname vs Mom or Mother .. Kinda like the Lil P ..... little princess) I am just throwing something out here. I trust whatever you think. I have enjoyed working with you so much and I will be sure to leave a wonderful comment on your web page : ) Cindy

I want to tell you...you captured what I needed PERFECTLY! You really do have a gift for this sort of thing!! I love the title and ending!!! Thanks so much!!! Katrina

"Allen, I love it...it is exactly what I wanted...a definite gem to add to our collection and memories of our beloved dad and spouse....many thanks...Teresa" (See poem here)

Hello Allen, This is very good first draft. Thank you Lucy

Hi Allen Just to let u know that the poem was perfect. Used it as my speech at my brothers wedding. Made a few tweaks of my own but it went down a treat and had tears and laughs in all the right places. Wasn't sure about the whole concept but it worked out brilliantly so thank you very much. Best wishes Christine x

The poem looks great! Its exactly what I was hoping for! Thanks for your hard work. I have no problem with you sharing my story. I like the burgundy ribbon card range. My favorite verse is: In fact, nothing will ever change my love for you, it will only get stronger and stronger, every single day, and I thank God for that chance meeting at college, "What's up beautiful?" changed my life in a magical way. Personal message: Thank you for making my life and my world a better place to be!

...this event is for Friday night...I hope that you can get it done..this is my second time using you..I really liked my first poem you created..Thank you (Ed; We made it! 9th April update: "I used this and added Facebook... so my final poem reads this...I feel better now..I really appreciate your dilligence. Marguerite")

I guess what Im trying to accomplish with this poem is a dad's advice to his sons...You wrote "Family Pride" for the first anniversary and "Burning Bright" for his second anniversary...both were perfect and exactly the sentiments I needed...Im really looking forward to this one also...

"Hi Allen I really enjoyed reading the poem - fantastic! Kind Regards Kathy"

"Mr Allen. All I can say is wow. It is exactly how I wanted it to be. The message is there. It's amazing. She will love it. It touched my heart. And yes you may publish our story. It's one of safeness but has brought forth much love and a deeper bond between my mother and us! Thank you"

"You will be please to know it went down a treat even though I could only read one verse as I couldn't stop crying! I had to ask my eldest brother to come up to the top table to finish it :-) Many thanks Aisling "

"Hi Allen, That’s great. A job well done. Just the part about him being his famiily’s locus. I’m not familiar with that, but everything else is brilliant. You are a talented man. Many many thanks and kindest wishes, Sonia Bennett"

Allen, "Perfect! I really do want to thank you Allen. I know my wife will love the poem you have written. Giving jewelry, flowers and the common anniversary gifts are great but I believe she will truly be touched by the gift you have provided. Yes, you may publish it. Again, Thanks!

Hi Allen, Thank you so much for your first draft. Sorry that I came back to you just today but I was in Zimbabwe until yesterday. When I read your poem tears were running down. I was really touched and I like it very much. You absolutely found the right words to express my thoughts and feelings. You don’t need to do any changes. I love it as it is. Once again thank you. If you would like to publish it I don’t have any problems. Please do. Best regards, Kerstin

Allen, Sorry I have been out of pocket. We lost two guys in a helicopter crash Saturday morning. The poem sounds great. I would like to see if we can work the second verse just a bit. Here is an idea let me know what you think. And so in Iraq, we wound up at the same place, and though I lived in a tent with a dirt floor, it was there we began our long series of Cribbage, and I think that I am winning, like 500 games to 4. Thanks, James

It is unbelievable. I love it!! And I thank you for making it happen... It is the best gift I think I will ever give him...