Why do you want the poem written ?: I want my wife and newborn daughter to always have something they can look at and alway know how much I love them and how important they are to me and how important we are to each other as a family.

Key Messages: My wife (Belle) and I have been together 14 years and married almost 6 years now. We are 33 years old. We first met in Kindergarten and I really did know then that she would be the love of my life. Belle is about to give birth to our first child, a baby girl we are going to name Dolly Ann. I would like to be able to read Belle and Molly this poem on the day Molly is born. I want Molly to know that she is special. I want her to know that she will be able to be and do whatever she wants to set her mind to. I want Belle to also know that she is special. I want them both to know that they are my life. That everything I do will be for them. That they are so important and so loved that they never have to worry. I also want them to know that whether times are good or bad, if we acknowledge our dependence on each other and especially on Jesus, our faith always carry us through whatever pifalls and hardships life may have in store for us.

Memorable Moments: I am overwhelmed with the idea of having a baby girl... I can remember so clearly when my wife was just 5 or 6, and we played kickball in the school park during lunch. I can remember that she was so athletic, that I picked her on my team even before some of the boys. I can't help but wonder about my little girl playing kickball in her school playground.

Other Comments: If possible I would like you to make mention of the strong heritage and background that Dolly Ann is coming from. Belles parents are both Irish. My mother is a first generation proud and strong Irish woman. My father is a first generation Italian. All of them were strong examples of true love and sacrifice for family as my wife and I we grew up.

Belle and Dolly Ann

I didn't know in kindergarten, that you'd be the love of my life, I didn't know that you'd be so beautiful, I didn't know that you'd be such a wonderful wife. I had no concept of fatherhood, or just what being a Dad would mean to me, I had no idea of the joy and the satisfaction, that would swell inside of me. I remember when we were just five or six, kickball was a game that we played, I picked you ahead of the others, and that's the best decision I've ever made. And I can't help but wonder, will Dolly Ann play kickball too? I can see her standing waiting to be picked, athletic and proud, a reflection of you. Because she will have our heritage, Italian and Irish full of passion and fire, she'll know the real meaning of family, the meaning of hope, of love, and desire. I am so very proud of you both, you fill my heart with pride, and I'm so happy and content, I couldn't have picked better, even if I'd tried. Dolly Ann, you are so very special, a parents dream fulfilled, you have the hopes of your father and mother, a great foundation on which to build. You have your whole life ahead of you, whatever you want, you'll be able to be and do, and we will be there by your side, with you, your whole life through. This day will be forever remembered, etched timelessly in my mind, because you've put meaning into my life, you've put the meaning in my rhyme. Everything that I do from this day forth, I will have you both at the centre of my heart, We?ve been blessed and given to each other, that's a pretty good place to start. No matter whether times are good or bad, we will know that together we'll stand, and Jesus will always be here for us, just like Our Father has always planned. And no matter what challenges await, or hardships that lay in store, to you I am devoted, and I will love you both for evermore. Because I am simply in awe of you both, and obviously, I'll never forget this wonderful day, just know that I love you, and now there's nothing left to say. Apart from: Here's to you both, my wonderful Belle and Dolly Ann, you've simply made my life for me, and you've made this boy a very happy man.

Copyright www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk 2009

Allen Jesson

Comments:

"I looked over the first draft of the poem. I love it."