Welcome to Cheryl's Poetry Place! Cheryl has been writing poetry for several years now, mostly as gifts for family and friends. The creative process of putting words into verse form can be both challenging and rewarding. But what amazes her the most is the inspiration that she feels for each individual poem as she writes. Here is a selection of poems that Cheryl has written. Below you will find a "testimony" for each poem that is showcased. **To view the poems, please click on the title of the desired poem located on the left side of the page.**

None More Than I - This poem was written for my Heavenly Father. He is everything to me. One day when receiving a blessing, at one point, the words spoken were about His love for me and then it said, "None more than I". With those words and the spirit of love felt in them, came the inspiration for this poem. - Cheryl D. Solis Paper Dreams - This poem was written for author and friend Marcia Lynn McClure for her birthday. I prayed for the guidance and spirit necessary to write such a poem. Even though it was written specifically for her, it has deeep meaning for myself as well. For it can be applied to my life as well. For my dreams are also "Paper Dreams". - Cheryl D. Solis

You Hold My Heart - This poem was written for my daughter and son-in-law, Cassie and Joel. They were married in the St. George Temple. It was a beautiful day! I love my daughter so very much and I love my son-in-law just as much. They are perfect for each other. The love they have for each other is so evident. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to raise her. She has truly blessed my life in ways she may never know. I look forward to watching them as they grow and mature in their new life. What an honor it has been to write this poem for them. I know without a doubt that the spirit of the Lord was guiding me as I pondered and prayed about what I would write that would touch them both in a personal and spiritual way. May you each have your own special someone to hold your heart! - Cheryl D. Solis  Eternal Dreams - This poem was written for a beautiful couple who were just married in the St. George temple. The bride is my best friend's daughter and I have known her for over 10 years. I consider them family and I love them just as an Aunt would. It was such a pleasure to write this for them. I know I was truly guided by the spirit as I wrote this poem. It was written with both the bride and groom in mind and I truly feel they will be able to see how they each individually fit in the poem. The love they have for each other is truly evident for all the world to see. I'm excited for their future and watching them fulfill their "Eternal Dreams". - Cheryl D. Solis A Shell of a Man - This poem was written for someone I love very much. As I was writing this poem I remember feeling how this could relate to myself or others that I know and love. Then I thought this poem is for anyone who felt like they were "stuck" or "going through the motions". In reality, who out there has never looked in the mirror, stared at their reflection and didn't recognize the face staring back at them? Who out there never questioned what they were really capable of? What they were really meant to do or be? I think it's safe to say that we all have. Like I said before, myself included. So, to anyone who's ever felt this way...this poem is for you. - Cheryl D. Solis My Angel From Heaven -  This poem was written for our neighbors in Utah. Their oldest daughter passed away at the age of 6 from heart complications. It's been years since her passing but through many conversations with our neighbors, I know this loss hurt them deeply, understandably so. One day I just felt impressed to write this poem in honor of their daughter. I KNOW she was there with me helping to write this poem. I could feel her spirit so strong, I couldn't help being moved to tears. This poem truly was an honor to write. Even though their daughter is gone from this earth, I know she still lives in the heavens. The veil truly is very thin...if we allow it to be. - Cheryl D. Solis Heaven Sent - This poem was written for friends of ours in Illinois as I watched them go through the adoption process for their son who is from Guatemala. It was a time of joy and frustration for them as they knew they would be getting their son but through the red tape of everything, caused many delays and many tears. I remember well the day they knew they would be getting their son and bringing him home. This was my gift to them and I suppose more importantly to my girlfriend as she was a close friend of mine at the time. In my mind's eye, these were the images that I saw and I could not help but write them. - Cheryl D. Solis Here, In Primary - This poem was written for all the Primary teachers and leaders of the Bourbonnais Ward at the time. I was a counselor in the Primary presidency and for the new year, as a presidency we decided that every month we wanted to show the teachers our appreciation by giving them a gft. I felt the desire to give them something like this. As I wrote this poem, I thought of all my callings I had had in Primary and the love I have for all the children and tried to put myself in their shoes. Think how they would think. Just seek that guidance and this is what came to be.- Cheryl D. Solis

I See...Eternity - I have a small group of loved ones that I hold very dear to my heart and this poem was written for 2 such people... When I lived in Kankakee, Illinois, there were a group of missionaries that my family became very close with. I love them all but there are 3 missionaries (Elders) who became my brothers... I wrote this for [one of my brothers and his bride]...I couldn’t be happier to see 2 people united eternally than I am for them... Whoever I am writing a poem for, I always try to focus on them and their perceptions of whatever subject I am writing about. In this case, I tried to make it so that both [my brother and his bride] could read this and equally feel the same. Where it could have been from either of their perspectives. Although there are a few touches given from experiences [my brother] had that he’s shared with me in the past. I felt it appropriate to include this poem... I admit there were moments when I wasn’t sure if [they] would like it and I wondered if I wrote it too fast. But as I was re-reading it to myself, I felt the Spirit so strong, just like I do now and I knew it was finished and it was right for them. I hope and pray that each time they read this poem, they will think of the sacred day they became husband and wife and also the feelings they had for each other in that moment. But most of all I hope they think of eternity. - Cheryl D. Solis

I Have Need of Thee - I dedicated this poem to my Father in Heaven out of great love and respect and need for Him. He is always there for me and through Him, I have been able to stand up to the challenges given me and come out standing a little taller, my countenance shining a little brighter and my faith and testimony stronger. Without Him I am nothing. Always and forever, I will have need of Him. - Cheryl D. Solis

Meant To Be  - This poem was written for my best friend's daughter and her new husband as a wedding gift... I have prayed over this poem for quite a period of time. I knew right away what I wanted the title to be. I just needed to figure out the rest. I had already started working on this poem when I called [my friend] and asked specific questions about [the bride and groom]. It was really neat when towards the end of the "interview", she said that it seemed like this really was "meant to be". I was excited because I already had half the poem written and there in bold letters was the title, "MEANT TO BE". I had hoped to write from both [bride and groom's] perspective, but as I wrote it seemed to flow as if from [the bride's] perspective..I remember feeling the spirit so strong towards the end that I started to cry. I knew it was complete. I'm very proud of this poem. It's a little longer than most of the others. I just feel like with each new poem wrtitten, they get a little bit deeper. My goal is to always write with the spirit. To touch people's heart with my writings, most especially the recipient of them. - Cheryl D. Solis

Return With Honor - This poem is my sequel to "My Mission Call". I have been wanting to write this for a very long time...I [used to] write to some of the missionaries in the Illinois Chicago South Mission. This poem was written for them. I know I haven't served a full-time mission...yet. But...I love missionary work and I cherish the opportunities I've had to share the gospel with my friends and family. I tried to draw from those experiences and as I thought of [my missionaries], I just remembered back to all the experiences I've shared with [them] and...prayed for an understanding  heart into how each of [them] must have felt as [they] served the Lord. - Cheryl D. Solis

My Mission Call - This poem was originally written for [a friend]...back in [Florida]... He was preparing to enter the MTC to serve in the California Anaheim Mission...I wanted to give him something that was special and unique and would have deep meaning...After much prayer and with the guidance of the Spirit, this is what came to be. "My Mission Call" has since been given to other missionaries that hold a special place in my heart. This poem has since become one of my most favorites of all that I have written, only because it not only applies to serving the Lord in a full-time mission as many young men and women do, but that it applies to every day life. For our life here on Earth is a mission...a "full-time" mission. With that perspective, you never know what your "call" will be in the Lord's Kingdom. If we just stay close to Him and communicate with Him, I know that we too can be "shown where to go". - Cheryl D. Solis

A Still, Small Voice - I wrote this poem for...a neighbor in...Illinois. At the time...we were the only members of our church on our street, let alone in our neighborhood. And through the actions of our daughter...we were able to further introduce [our neighbor] and her family to the gospel. It was not easy. It was very hard work and it took great patience and loving persistence to be able to teach [our neighbor] what we know. I was asked to give a talk on the Holy Ghost [at our neighbor's baptism]. For a couple of weeks I struggled with what to write. I knew what to say but at the same time, I wanted it to be personal to [them]. I read tons of scriptures. Did a lot of research on the church website in hopes of finding different quotes and things to use in my talk. It was so frustrating because nothing was coming to mind. I remember thinking of writing her a poem as a gift but was concentrating more on the talk than the poem. One early morning, I couldn't sleep. It was 2 or 3 in the morning and I had all of these thoughts running through my mind in verse form. I could not, NOT write these thoughts down. And so became the poem,"A Still, Small Voice". This became my talk...This poem is VERY special to me because it is about the Holy Ghost whom I love and cherish deeply. - Cheryl D. Solis

For God So Loved ME - This poem was written for... friends of ours from our ward. This past Easter Sunday...[they] both... bore their testimonies in Sacrament. ...When [he] bore his testimony, the Spirit pierced my heart so deeply. I was so moved by his testimony as well as [her's]. With it being Easter Sunday, we remember the Savior’s Atoning sacrifice as well as His death upon the cross and ultimately His resurrection. I know for them it had significant meaning. As I was listening to them speak, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was to write a poem for them about the Atonement. As I was still listening to them, I knew exactly what picture I wanted to give them along with the poem. I used a black and white sketch of the Savior with a crown of thorns upon His head. It was what I envisioned in my mind all within a matter of seconds. I just knew it was what I had to do. I must say, it was an absolute privilege and honor to write this for them. It was even more special to see their reactions as they looked at their gift for the first time. I loved this gift so much; I want to make one for myself to hang on my wall. The Atonement is for everyone. The Lord loves us and willingly gave His life for us. We all have or have had experiences in this life that brings a more personal understanding of the Atonement; hence the title, “For God So Loved Me”. Not only did I strive to write this poem from [their] perspective but I wrote it from a more personal perspective. That is why this poem is so special to me as well. - Cheryl D. Solis   [ Email this page to a friend ]