Kati, I very much enjoy the poetry! Thank you for sharing it! I never thought of the dash that way. Brenda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kati" <kimis@bellsouth.net> To: <GAWARE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 7:46 AM Subject: [GAWARE] Morning Dash > Good Morning All, > I have been on the GAWARE list since it was begun. Some of you likewise. I > don't usually send poetry to the list. But the following poem, sent to me > by a cousin, will now be on my mind each time I visit a new gravestone. I > hope you're spending your dash well. > Kati > > > 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 her date of birth > And spoke the following date with tears, > But he said what mattered most of all > Was the dash between those years. > > (1933 - 1998) > > 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 you spent your dash? > > > ==== GAWARE Mailing List ==== > GAWARE Archives: http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/usa/GA/ware.html > GAWARE GenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaware/ > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > >