The Dash

[keltic 1]

The Dash

By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

from the beginning…..to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth

and spoke of the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all

was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

that she spent alive on earth

and now only those who loved her

know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

the cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love

and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

to consider what’s true and real

and always try to understand

the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives

liked we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

and more often wear a smile…

remembering that this special dash

might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

with your life’s actions to rehash,

would you be proud of the things the say

about how you spent your dash?

[almaty 19]

very nice..and true

[jazzette 0]

Thanks for posting this. A friend of mine (52) who was a Karaoke host died suddenly of a heart attact on May 7th it was a terrible shock. His nickname was Dash and this poem gave me much comfort.

I went to his show just a few days before and he was walking around and telling jokes making people laugh, as he always did. I heard rumor that he did Coke for awhile but had cleaned up his life. I guess the damage to his heart was already done but at least he healed his soul and that is all that really matters in the end.

Again thank you