What Matters Is How We Live

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 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.
Linda Ellis

Remember.
Remember who you are
Who you want to become.
Everything will fall into place
When the time comes.
Don’t forget I love you’s
Every chance you get.
The time may be short
There is no time to regret.
Life can be exciting
As we all have found out.
Eventful, even busy
There is no time to be left out.
Remember who you are
And who you want to become.
The time can be short
Don’t leave things undone.
Remember your families
They are the only ones you’ve got.
To carry you in times of need
They can not be bought.
Remember they love you
Either here or there.
They will always be with us
Help for things to bear.
Dawn Jensen

Take Off The Mask.
There are people who smile, even when they are in half.
There are people who are dying, and yet they still laugh.
There are people who are crazy, but still act they are sane.
There are people who act stupid, but using their brain.
There are people who love someone, but they act like they don’t.
There are people who should be helping someone, but won’t.
Everyone’s got a mask, because they’re hurting inside,
All they need is a person in whom they can confide,
To push all their fears and worries aside,
To be a whole different person, their emotions untied,
They show you the real them, insecurities aside.
This is the person we’d all love to be,
This type of person could be you or me.
If we just took a chance on that one good friend,
All of our troubles could come to an end.
When we share we halve it, so give it a try,
We spread out our wings, and we’ll learn to fly.
David Watkins

I Owe So Much To People.
People everywhere in life from every walk and station,
From every town and city and every state and nation
Have given me so many things intangible and dear,
I couldn’t begin to count them all or even make them clear.
I only know I owe so much to people everywhere
And when I put my thoughts in verse it’s just a way to share
The musings of a thankful heart.. a heart much like your own,
For nothing that I think or write is mine and mine alone.
So if you found some beauty in any word or line,
It’s just your soul’s reflection in proximity with mine.
Helen Steiner Rice