Read The Dash Poem
Please enjoy The Dash poem written by Linda Ellis. This poem has been enjoyed by millions around the world. The words have changed many lives. They could change yours, too…
This is copyrighted material and may not be reproduced, posted or distributed without authorization. However, please feel free to RECITE it anywhere at any time. If you’d like to share it with others, post a link to this page…do not copy. We thank you! Live Your Dash!The Dash
by Linda Ellis copyright 1996
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
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?
Copyright Linda Ellis
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thought provoking and oh so true. With your permission I would like to read this as I am officiating at a funeral for a friend.
God bless you for your insight.
Thank you for your beautiful words. You really are an inspiration and I am so glad I found your site.
Thank you,
Bill
I absolutely love your work…I have only read 2 poems so far and will be researching all your other work. Very wise words and will be sharing these a lot.
Thank you.
Best wishes,
Adam
thank you Linda for such an inspiring poem. this poem says a lot about you as an individual i wish you allow me share it with my family and friends. i hope it will inspire all of them to live each day as it comes. have a blessed xmas and a happy new year
Hi Juliet, thank you for your kind comments. There are many ways to share this poem with your family and friends. (In fact, it’s posted right on this page with “SHARE” features right underneath.) Hope they enjoy it! Live Your Dash!
hi. i read the dash at a very good friends funeral two years ago. i think it sums up what is really important in ones life i was very proud to be able to do your poem for him as well for all there to hear it.
thanks Linda
I attended a funeral of a friend and “The Dash” poem was read. The words confirm what I truly believe. It certainly blessed me and in an effort to pass it on, I want to share your information and website with others. Thank you for being such a beautiful inspiration and allowing God to use your life.
what a truly inspirational poem.my mother heard it being read at a recent service in North Wales and i would very much like to pass it on to a friend of mine who recently lost a mother a few days ago.its very difficult to lose someone you love before christmas and I am sure it would mean a lot to her to be able to read your comforting words. thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Linda, “The Dash” is such a beautiful inspirational poem. I plan to share it with friends, family and my readers. You so eloquently summed up life, it is not about possessions, but how we live. If people would focus on “the dash” and strive to live life to the fullest, being the best person they could be, we would see a shift toward peace in our country and in our world.
Simply beautiful words.
Dear Linda,
A most beautiful, meaningfull peom which was read at a memorial service last weekend for my mother-in-law and others who had passed away this year. I shall keep the words with me for reading at an appropriate future date.
You must be a lovely lady to have penned such thoughts.
God be with you.
Amazing. Inspiring. Thank you.
This poem was recited at my husband’s funeral on Nov. 24. So many people found the poem touching and personally meaningful. Thank you for writing it and thank you Dan for reciting it for Craig.
I first heard your poem at young man’s funeral. He had packed a lot if living into his short time on earth.
Now my 92 year old mom has passed and she had a long fulfilled dash. She was a kind and thoughtful person, a loving, wife, mom and grandma. I would like this read at her service.
Thank you
Susan
Linda, Thank you so much for this lovely poem.
I would like to share this poem with my three adult children, who thru the grace of god are still with me. Unfortunately, for the past few years they have been estranged from one another. As a mother, this is the most painful experience in my life I would love to share this poem with them. Perhaps, they will see this as, I do. A guide to a life worth living. Never too late to forgive and love.
Thanks again for the inspiring poem.
Kissimmee, Fl.
Linda,
I recently read your poem on the back of one of my friends. He actually has the entire poem tattoo’d on his back. After readying your poem I actually was inspired to write a poem about your poem. If sometime you would like you can email me and I would be happy to share that poem with you. I sincerely enjoyed reading your poem, and I appreciate that you have shared it with the world. It means a great deal to both me and my friend.
Thank you,
Lauren
The “DASH” became a very important “line”
in my life when the Doctor said I had “Breast
Cancer. I am a survivor, but my dash is a closer
walk with God.
The first thing that came to my mind was my father – the way he lived his “dash”. He was a school teacher, met Mahatma Gandhi in his younger days, got inspired by him and was a Gandhian throughout his life. Today, I am what I am because of him.
Shankar, India
These are the greatest words I have ever read in my nearly 80 years.Now ” must ” run to get the book !
Hello Linda. we just had a funeral for a most loved one who will be so dearly missed taken by cancer. The priest read this poem of your at her funeral and its one of the greatest things I have heard in quite some time. It really hit me to the core.
this really is “MY” poem in a way. Mine in that it speaks of “ME” and my philosophy in life.
I absolutely love and live the message and its quite beautiful to hear it manifested into words so well. I am amazed I have never found it before the funeral. what an amazing poem.
I firmly believe to my core that I have answered the question of the meaning of life. The answer is to enjoy it. anything else is either largely irrelevant or simply survival. what separates sentient life from regular survival animal life IS THIS CONCEPT. the simply enjoyment of life. and that is the meaning of life. to enjoy it it really is just that simple. I answered this question around 10 years old and I believe it more the longer I live. This poem affirms that belief.
thank you so much for writing it.
Hi Linda,
I’m a 14 year old girl from the Netherlands, and I love this poem so much. I showed it to two friends of me and they said they loved it. I hope somebody will read this at my funeral, and that they will be proud of me of how I spent my dash. I guess that’s what our lives are about, aren’t they? Making your loved ones proud and leave something good behind. Well, that’s what my life is about. It may be weird that I’m talking about this at my age, but I just
hope my family will be proud of me.
xxxx
I saw this poem originally in 1997 back when I was in college. And even back then it resonated. I made a pledge to myself that when the most important person in my life passed (my grandmother) that I would read it at her funeral.
At the age of 91, she passed last week. I’ll be keeping that pledge and will read it on Friday at her funeral.
No words give comfort at a time like this, but I thank you for piece that accurately captures her life.
Wonderful poem. Very inspiring. Thank you
Living the dash is worth more than everything in life, for not living the dash is waste of one full life
Thank you Linda
Your poem has touched my heart and I totally agreed.
Molly from NZ
my dad passed away several years ago and I used this poem as the framework for the eulogy…
He should have been very proud of his dash… we all were..
Thks for sharing…
Loved the Dash poem! I also, have poem coming out in my new book by Author House Publishing, poem titled, When God Took My Friend, by larry d. hunter
Thank you so much for allowing God to give you words that really touch lives….as J. Vernon Mcgee would say…right where the rubber mets the ROAD!
I am going through a hard time and reading your poem helped me realize, that life is so short that we need to adjust our days so that meaningful things get done first, like loving more, helping more, listening more, laughing more.
Thank you, when the moment comes and I have to transcend this world, I want to leave a smile on the faces of the people I left behind.
Dear Linda, thank you for such an inspiring poem. I want to say that it has given me cause to have a reality check on the way i passive life in general. I will make an effort to begin to live differently & better. I pray to God that we all have a long and awesome DASH, Amen.
linda that is the best poem ever written! thank you so much,for sharing that with me,i will make sure to share it to others,god bless
This poem the Dash is so important to read for me.
I always use it at funerals for family or friends.
Thank you it really does sum up life and what really matters. ..
Dear Linda,
What an inspiring poem. I will treasure it forever. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart.
Dear Linda,
What a beautiful inspiring poem. I will treasure it forever. Thank you for sharing a peace of your heart.
Dear Linda,
Anyone that works at trying to inspire people should always at the least get an amazing “Thank you.” We so need more people like you in this world.
Thank you so very much….
Thank you Linda for sharing your poem and being open to the Creator of the Universe,your words are so true……
This poem is so beautiful and timely. Came across this last evening during a friend’s funeral when someone read this out and tomorrow is my birthday. Between the birthday and attending the funeral, TODAY …took some time to reflect on the words of this poem and unfoldinging the dash in life…. Living life to the fullest… What legacy am I leaving behind? How we spend our Dash!
The Dash – so familiar to me and so very touching. I have a beautiful printing of this poem that was presented to me after my son committed suicide. My business partner shared the poem at my son’s Memorial Service reciting it slowly and with so much meaning. Thank you so much for being inspired to write such a beautiful, soul inspiring, poem. It truly a treasure and I know shared with many people who come to know it.
Hello;
I read it with tears ,it touches my heart ,at time frustration and unsatisfaction controlling my life .56 years old with v rich dashes to society mainly females . appreciated by all but personally i feel i forg0t ? ignored ? neglect ? my own needs .
thanks
That was beautiful and so very true!
The past is gone and the future is not here yet but what we have is the present. Live life to the fullest and enjoy!
Thank you for sharing!
I often tell myself to spend my dash the proper way. And I mean to, but often it is as though I am not the one who controls my life.
Dear Linda,
Thanks for a lovely poem, the poem is a classic example of simplicity, the journey of life could not have been put in a more simpler manner.
I also take this as an opportunity to improve, modify My DASH. This poem touches that sensitive cord in you and bring out a clear thought what are we all running around for.
This poem was shared by a priest- our recollection master during our faculty recollection. I was actually moved by the poem and now I am sharing it to a friend..to friends actually. The author gave a very simple and often unrecognized punctuation mark and that is the “dash” she gave a whole new meaning to the it.
My darling husband keiths funeral was monday of this week and a very close friend asked me if she could read a poem called the dash in memory of my husband at the funeral. I’m so glad I said yes. So many people have asked me for a copy of the poem since. It is beautiful and a few minuites ago I had printed a copy out for my sister in law who wanted to take it to work where she is a carer to read it to everyone. I will cherish the words of this poem for ever, while trying to live the rest of my dash doing things that would have made my beloved proud. Jackie Strong
I am so very sorry for your loss. I just found this poem. I lost both my brothers several years ago. I wish I had known about this poem. I would have loved to have had it read at their funerals. God bless you.
Dear Jackie, please accept my sympathy. I to lost my sister back in 1995 to an illness. I guess somehow life seems to make it all work out eventually & it all will become alright in due time, promise. Just believe that all your beloved would want right now is…that your memories of him inspire happiness & joy in you always. Stay blessed & be strong Mrs strong. Charles.
I would like permission to read this poem at a funeral for a dear friend’s husband who has passed. The funeral is Monday, Oct. 29th. It would minister to so many that will be attending his funeral.
God Bless,
Pastor Lynda
This was posted at the memorial service this past Saturday (10/20/12) for Graydon H. Ellis Jr. Probably no relation, but interesting coincidence.Grady definitely “lived the dash”.
This was beautifully read at my friends funeral last night. Thank you.
This poem was read at my fathers funeral. We were very moved by the poem and will treasure it for years to come. Thank you
Today is my 93rd birthday. It has been a long dash. Thanks for the poem and thanks to my Lord for His grace.
Belated Happy 93rd Birthday Hughlan Richey,
These words are with prayers that your long life has been good for you and for many others. If not so far, it’s never too late to begin. Our Dad is 92 next month and may be our town’s next Representative to the House in our home State of Maine. He sent this poem to me over a decade ago & it has blessed so many people, to his credit also. He’s still a fireball, ‘Living His Dash’. Early Happy 92nd Birthday Dad, Ralph Johnston of Windham, Maine.
Hello Linda Ellis,
I really enjoyed your poem, I myself write alot of poems about God. I write whatever He speaks to me whenever I am going through. This poem was referred to me by an co-worker who’d just lost her father. She says it explains it all. I do have to say that I agree with Shandra (my co-worker). Because as I read your poem I reflected over my mothers funeral .How full the chruch was people she knew from work,school,chruch,and more. But not just people she knew, people who worked with my sister and I that we had met along the way. How many people spoke and the things they had to say about her. She wasn’t famous on TV or radio But because of her obedience to God in sharing her deepest Love so many peoples lives had been touch. So now when I reflect on that day my heart is truly blessed. Thank You. I was truly Blessed.
Truly inspiring! I love that poem and will be sharing it
Linda….I first learned about “Dash” through a women I met who lost her daughter. This past Tuesday I lost my 87 yr old mother. I would like to reference “Dash” when my sister, and two brothers speak at her service. She lived a great “Dash”, as it was never about her, but always her husband, four children, and seven grand children.
Thanks Linda,
Jim
Columbus, OH
i have been permantly disabled for about 2 years now. birth defects
that were left undetected, my condition is progressing rapidly and
my relationship with god has become a lot stronger. im so glad i found
your poem! i have been very positive about the time i have left and this poem is going to help me live what may be a shorter life than i expected . i am getting plans together for when i pass so my family knows what i would like. would it be o.k. if i have your poem read at
the service? it is such a beautiful way to look at life and if everyone
on the planet read it, the world would be a much different place! thank-you for listening, im off to live my dash!
Rhonda,
I would be more than proud to have my words read. It saddens me to read about your condition, and I am praying for you. I’m humbled to know my words have inspired you so….and I wish you well. ~Linda
Rhonda,
You and your family are in my prayers. I am sadden to hear of your conditions but overwhelmed with JOY to hear that your relationship with God has grown stronger. That is the right attitude to have live with purpose.You’ve touch a speial place in my heart.I pray your days are blessed with Love, Joy,and Peace.
I hear Heaven is a lovely place.