Who is to say that Odysseus, Desdemona or Juliet are more worthy of an epic poem than you, your family, or your friends and colleagues? Everybody's story is worth telling to someone. A personal history—told in an easily perceptible beat—is a wonderful way to show people that you see them with the depth they deserve, and that you care enough to present them with an eternally memorable, custom-tailored gift. Although I do the writing, the gift is most certainly yours, as you search your head and heart for the memories that make up a relationship. A history, a wish, a summation of a life, any of life expressed in verse is an extravagant emotional gift.

You choose the subject: parents, siblings, entire families, spouses, friends, business associates, your company, or your own self. You can present the piece as a written gift, as well as have it performed by either you, me, a singer and pianist, or an entire cast.

Honor those you love by letting them know you remember the good, forgive the difficult, and that you paid attention. Let the people in your life know that you learned from them, and that they made a difference to you. Bring joy, laughter, and maybe a few important tears to any occasion. Highlight successes, revive times gone by, pay tribute to those you love, tell a story, and touch your listeners in a way unlike any other kind of communication.