A Wonderful Poem- "The Dash"

**Kfamr** · 09-30-2002, 11:53 PM

"The Dash"

I read of a man who stood to speak
At a funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came her dat of birth
And spoke the following dates with tears
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash bewtween thoose years (1934-1998)

For the 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 alway understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger.
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved befor.

If we treat each other with respect.
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might last only a little while

So, when you eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
By: Linda Ellis

Today in school we read this and had to write our feelings aobut it. I LOVED this poem so i asked my teacher for a copy of it and i decided to share it with you all.

**Fuzzy317** · 10-01-2002, 12:10 AM

I like that Poem. I think my "dash" should be a ~ mark, with all of lifes little ups and downs.

**lovemymaltese** · 10-01-2002, 01:29 PM

thanks for the poem, it was a good read.

**ChrisH** · 10-01-2002, 03:22 PM

That is really good and something to think about too. Thanks for sharing.

**mugsy** · 10-01-2002, 04:46 PM

I've had that poem for years. It's been on most of the genealogy lists that I've been on. I copied it for everyone at school a couple of years ago and it went over big there too.

One of my favorites.

**Kfamr** · 10-01-2002, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by mugsy
I've had that poem for years. It's been on most of the genealogy lists that I've been on. I copied it for everyone at school a couple of years ago and it went over big there too.

One of my favorites.

Our teacher got it when the old principal left our school last year. I loved it.