How Do You Live Your Dash?
I read of a man who stood
up 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 date of birth
And spoke the following
date with tears,
But he said what mattered
most of all
Was the dash between the
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's
being read
With your life's actions
to rehash....
Would you be proud of
the things they say
About how your spent your
dash?
Back to My Favorite Poems
Return to Burnadette's
Home Page!
