I have almost ten years experience of writing bespoke poems for special occasions or personal tributes, taking commissions for weddings, christenings, funerals, memorials, and for milestones in children's lives. 

 

I consider it an honour to be trusted with conveying people's love and emotions into words and I take time to get to know the person you wish the poem to be written for through your stories, details and relationship you have with them. This can be conveyed via voice notes, messages, emails, video call or meeting in person.

 

If you would like your loved one to be honoured with a piece of unique and bespoke poetry for a special service or to be framed, please email me at laura@wordcraftworkshops.com and we can arrange a time for me to learn about this person and a turnaround time frame for me to write the poem, conveying your loved one in a way that is authentic, compassionate and empathic.

 

Please see below for samples of some of my past poetry commissions: (I've omitted names for privacy)

 

Bloodline

 

In thoughts, in reflections, in memories,

               each one of us today says 

  in our own little way

             a goodbye to *****;

a father, grandfather,

           a man built strong 

               on the rigs and ropes

       of a long, long life,

who crossed here over seas and lands

           by hand and foot-

 

-to bridge two worlds, two sides, two lives;

          a rebellious ride through a revolution,

breaking barriers of borders, limits of language

         his genealogy mapped in his geography

down the descendants, anchored in his ancestry-

 

-what he brought, these spices, tones, musical notes;

 it all flows down in the bloodline

                sifting through our hands

in the sands of time

       

    nomadic, free and wild-

         

-such things like this

      in indelible ink 

are etched deep in our DNA

       are what make each family who they are

                   a signature written in their own style and way-

 

      -so even today in saying goodbye

          I wonder if ***** truly realised

this influence he’s had on all of our lives-

       

       -a telepathy in the bloodline;

     they say lightning strikes: maybe once, maybe twice

and it’s there amongst us, that knowing look across the eyes-

          

         -and still his traditions run in us all deep

                    cooking, music, wine, that rebellious streak-

 

        -his stories run on, the music in us plays on,

deep down in the bloodline

       Budapest burgundy red like wine,

 his legacy, unique, still tangible signs,

                    and love is the thing that outlives us all

legends aren’t written into history so frequently,

              and so a goodbye is somehow still a hello

when it runs so strong throughout our family-

 

nyugodj békében *****

emlékezni fognak rád

 

Poem for *******

 

Woman of myth and enigma,

music in the bones

and fire in the blood.

 

I still see you now

as twenty five years ago

eyes of truth, bluey-green

and wavy raven hair

walking barefoot,

a nomadic Hungarian gypsy.

 

Sometimes life is stranger than fiction

and the one you lived could fill multiple novels

you could paint the walls with your stories

untamed and unconventional

as in the U2 song you loved:

who’s gonna ride your wild horses?

 

Not all questions have answers

and some things we can never know

or understand

but now you have peace

together again with your father and daughter.

 

In the eternal life of memories

you are still that big sister playing the piano

you are still that wild auntie of intrigue

you are still that daughter and mother of four.

 

Now rest easy *******, 

egészségedre and goodnight.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poem for ****** 

 

This poem is for you baby boy 

and all the love and all the joy 

you’ve brought to so many lives, 

one year old already 

your parents’ pride, 

loved so much 

since the day you arrived. 

 

Such a happy child 

with a beaming smile 

although your little body 

has faced times so tough 

together you’ve all pulled 

through it all with love, 

so strong from the start 

you’re a true brave-heart! 

 

Through long, long nights 

and long, long days   

under the care of Alder Hey, 

you never lose your sense of play, 

you never let anything take that away, 

making music in your unique way. 

 

Such strength and courage through  

every procedure, 

every operation, 

through times of tears 

and times of frustration, 

you and your family are an inspiration. 

 

So this poem is for you ****** 

and all your inner sunshine  

that lights up every day, 

so much love surrounds you 

forever and always! 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poem for ***

 

You're remembered for laughter

You're remembered for fun

The legacy you've gifted

In your daughter and son

 

They'll hear of your kindness

They'll hear of your pride

They'll know of your love

In life and from above

 

Youngest sister of four

So clearly adored

A mother, daughter,

Sister, grandchild,

Cousin, auntie

And even a great-auntie

A good friend to so many

and so much more

 

The life and soul of our beloved ***

Will live on in her children

And all of her family

In every single loving memory.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘There She Will Be’ 

In Loving Memory of *********

 

Today, together, united in our grief 

we never imagined it would happen now 

it’s so difficult to imagine this world without her now; 

 

our daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother 

so cherished and adored by us all. 

 

As we search for answers and search for peace 

when we look within our hearts 

that’s where she will be. 

 

In dreams at night and waking day 

the years of memories will never be taken away, 

 

for she lives on and she walks on 

in the footsteps of all her grandchildren and sons- 

the legacy of a lady and her remarkable life. 

 

There she will be 

from the rising of dawn to the setting of the sun 

the life and soul of the party, 

forever young. 

 

There she will be 

evergreen on the leaves of the trees 

echoes carried on the whisper of the breeze 

lingering hints of her scent in the air 

Thierry Mugler 

as it was on her clothes and in her hair; 

heard on the notes of lyrics and melodies 

Kate Bush and Fleetwood Mac. 

 

There she will be 

in treasured memories 

of a woman who could light up a room 

with her impeccable style and beautiful smile; 

fitness was her passion 

and of course, how she loved her fashion. 

 

If we ever feel sad, lost or alone 

she will be our light, our compass, our guide 

we won’t even have to look far; 

in the mirror, we will see her in our own eyes 

and in nature, in the subtlest of signs 

in the brightest star, in the bluest sea. 

 

That’s where you will find her. 

 

That’s where she will be. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Celebration of **** & **** 

 

Unexpectedly, one April night 

Under bright bar neon light 

**** and ****’s eyes both met 

A chance meeting no-one could forget 

 

Their dating days were filled with fun 

Partying until the rise of the sun 

Both big lovers of a good time 

Holidays, nights out and plenty of wine 

 

All the places that they would go 

Amsterdam, Cyprus, Mexico 

Precious time together, just those two 

Before all their dreams would come true 

 

Saving up was worth the wait 

Buying number 1 ******** 

**** loved that home as everyone knows 

At Christmas time he did propose 

 

Then came **** their baby boy 

Who brought them endless love and joy 

With the bluest eyes you ever did see 

That’s part of his father’s legacy 

 

That kind of love never really ends 

From Earth to Heaven it just transcends 

In moon and sunlight, stars and air 

He’s always with you, everywhere