I've written poems for all kinds of occasions — weddings, funerals, surprise birthdays, apology letters, even a marriage proposal read over speakerphone at a family dinner.

Here's what I've learned: people don't remember the gift card amount. They don't remember which candle you got them. But they remember the words.

A custom poem hits different because it says "I paid attention to who you are." It takes the inside jokes, the quiet moments, the things you've never said out loud — and puts them in a form that lasts.

A few moments that work especially well as poems:

• Wedding vows or toasts (when you want to say something real, not just "raise your glass")

• Memorial tributes (when a eulogy feels too formal and silence feels like not enough)

• Anniversary gifts (year 1 or year 40 — doesn't matter)

• "Just because" — sometimes the best poems have no occasion at all

If you've ever stared at a blank card and thought "I wish I could say this better" — that's exactly what I do.

I'm Samadi, and Sunflower Poetry is where I write custom poems for people who want their feelings to land. Starting at $25.