The Dash
copyright 1996 by Linda Ellis

I read of a reverend
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.
You could be at dash mid-range.

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?