Forty Years - A poem from a daughter to her parents on her wedding day.

I am very much interested, however I am a little unsure. I would like to
tell you my back ground for the poem.
    I am a 26 years old female and the youngest of 5 children. I will be
getting married in April 2001 (I am the first one to get married in my
family). I was thinking about reading a poem to my parents during the
reception instead of doing the daughter father dance because my father
is in a wheelchair. I want to recognize my parent because they mean the
world to me and in June 2001 they will be celebrating their 40th wedding
anniversary.
My parents are both from County Kerry, Ireland and the Catholic faith is
very important to them and myself. They have taught all five of us the
importance of family, faith and trust.
    In the poem I would like to stress how my parents have showed us how
a marriage has its ups and downs. It was only two years ago when my
father became wheelchair bound. I see how a marriage is about good
health and sickness and you have to be their for one another. My
brothers and my sisters are the best as well. We as a family know we
need each other and will always be there for each other.
    I hope this is enough information. Please let me know if you need
more. I am interested in your package deal, however I am a little
uncertain.

Thank You,
Juliet Maybury

Forty Years

As I stand here before you,
so proud on my wedding day,
I have some special words,
so please listen as I have my say.

And I want to take you back,
through the laughter and the tears,
take you back to the beginning,
and tell a tale of forty years....

It is a story of love and devotion,
an epic that started in the Emerald Isle,
separately they crossed an ocean,
and came together in a New York aisle.

And my parents belonged together,
because they truly are a team,
they've worked so unselfishly,
to build their castle, their dream.

And with bricks of honesty and hard work,
the foundations are solid and free of guilt,
and they filled that house with so much love,
it's become the strongest home ever built.

And I was (and am still) the youngest,
surrounded by love (as indeed I am tonight),
and I just wanted to thank you all,
you've made my life so wonderfully right.

And I do feel so incredibly lucky,
to have been part of this magical ride,
it makes me feel so very proud,
and safe and warm deep inside.

And I'd just like to thank them,
from the very bottom of my heart,
and I just hope I can do as well,
as I give my new life a start.

So here's to you, Mom and Dad,
you've truly stood and passed the test,
and I just wanted you to know,
that we all think that you're the best !

Copyright Allen Jesson :) 2001

www.agiftofpoetry.com

"I just want to say thank you for the poem you wrote for me a couple of
months ago. The poem was titled Forty Years. I read the poem to my parents
at my wedding on April 28th. Everyone loved it, especially my parents. I
read the poem to the 220 guest and everyone of them felt the poem expressed
so much love.
I just wanted to say thanks again for all your hard work in writing this
poem for me."

Juliet Maybury Hunt