This poem describes what ~Dabee~ had already figured out, what she taught each of us through her friendships with us.
The Dash
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
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 midrange.")
-
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 you spend your dash?
-
