The Dash Poem


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 her date of her birth

And spoke 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
Like 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 they say
About how you spent your dash?



esteban designs