The Dash – Poem

Curated By Ralph

"The Road Not Taken" is a source of inspiration for me, because it encourages me to seize opportunities and chart my own course in life.

The Dash Poem is a poem by Linda Ellis. This poem inspires you to live your dash and live life to the fullest. The words for this poem are below. This is a good inspirational or funeral poetry reading.

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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 the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end

He noted that first came the date of 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 they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
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 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?


The dash A 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 the Tombstone From the beginning To the end He noted that first came the date of 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 They spent alive on earth And now only those who love them Know what that little line is worth For it matters not how much we own The cars the house the cash What matters how we live and love How we spend our dash So think about this long and hard Are there things you 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 Be less quick to anger and show Appreciation more Love the people in our lives like we’ve Never loved before If we treat each other with respect and

More often we’re a smile remembering 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

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