![]() It's also a warning not to squander the time we have in life. There are no guarantees that anyone will live to retirement age, or have enough time for that one last apology. In spite of that inevitability, there are opportunities to make the most of life. Ellis reminds us that death is inevitable, and it can come at any time. The "Dash" is effectively a big carpe diem to readers. The speaker urges the reader to remember to show appreciation, respect and love as readily as possible, "remembering that this special dash might only last a little while" (31-32). Would I be satisfied with my legacy on earth if I were to die tomorrow?.When confronted with grief, and the threat of your own demise, difficult questions arise: Doing activities that you enjoy, going on adventures and spending time with family and friends, are what really matter at the end of your life. It's not about "how much we own, the cars.the house.the cash" (13-14). That dash represents the time we spend doing what we love in life. Ultimately, what really matters is compressed into one tiny line. The line between a person's birth and death dates on their tombstone represents the entire life they lived. He noted that first came the date of birthĪnd spoke of the following date with tears, This eulogist offers a funeral congregation wisdom on matters of life and death: "The Dash" is written in first-person by a speaker who "read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend" (Lines 1-2). Today we are exploring Linda Ellis' death positive poem-"The Dash." "The Dash" has become a memorial service staple that thousands of families recite each year when burying their dead. The 36 lines have since come to comprise a most beloved modern funeral poem. Linda Ellis wrote "The Dash" in one afternoon in 1996. Contact her at reporting by Andrew Bahl, Ledyard King, Rebecca Morin and Ella Lee.Carpe diem means "seize the day" - are you making the most of your dash? (Shutterstock)ĭid you know Beyond the Dash's name is a literary reference? Bob Dole planned in D.C., Topeka and RussellĮrin Davoran is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. Jerry Moran's office.įuneral, burial arrangements: Memorial events for former Sen. ![]() The World War II veteran will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, according to a spokesman with Kansas Sen. ![]() His body will then be returned to Washington. Memorial services will conclude Saturday, first in his birthplace of Russell and then at the Kansas Statehouse, where Dole's body will lie in repose. Laura Kelly receive Dole's casket at Salina Regional Airport on Friday. The funeral capped two days of tributes reserved for Washington's most consequential and revered dignitaries.Ī Kansas delegation led by Gov. His rise to national prominence started in small-town Kansas.īob Dole's constant pen in hand was a reminder of World War II woundsįuneral services for Bob Dole continue Saturday in KansasĪt the funeral in Washington on Friday, a bipartisan assemblage of politicians, led by President Joe Biden, honored Dole's lasting legacy as a bridge-builder in Congress. ![]() 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?īob Dole spent 60 years in the political spotlight. If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.īe less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before. Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged. What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.įor it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.įor that dash represents all the time that they spent life on Earth. He noted first came the date of the birth and spoke the following date with tears. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end. I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. ![]()
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