by Ron Tranmer©
I knelt there at the headstone
of one I love and cried.
Name, with dates of birth and death
were perfectly inscribed.
I pondered these two dates
and how little they both mean
when compared to the tiny dash
that lies there in between.
The dash serves as an emblem
of our time here on the earth,
and although small, it stands for all
our years of life, and worth.
And our worth will be determined
by how we live each day.
We can fill our dash with goodness,
or waste our life away.
To ourselves, as well as others,
let’s be honest, kind and true,
and every day, live the way
we know God wants us to.
May we look for opportunities
to do a worthy deed,
and reach out with compassion
to those who are in need.
For If our hearts are full of love
throughout our journey here,
we’ll be loved by all who knew us
and our memory they’ll hold dear.
And when we die, these memories
will bring grateful, loving tears,
to all whose lives were touched
by the dash between our years.
This is awesome
Special words indeed
That is beautiful!
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing. She never missed an opportunity to witness for Her Lord.
Awesome!
I was told about your poem by my Uber driver today! Marvellous it is
Hello I am sending this concerning this poem, my friends Dad passed away & she fell in LOVE with this poem she was wondering if she could use this poem on the back of her Dad’s obituary card. Thanks in advance
oops. Sorry for the likely too late reply. I just found this. All my poetry can be used for personal use. Just not sold without contract.
My Father died last week 16 days shy of his 100th birthday. I would love to use your poem
at his funeral. It is so fitting like you know my daddy.
Gives one a time to pause and reflect. What will people think of me and my life , the dash, when it comes time for me to complete the two dates and meet my maker.
I attended a friends funeral yesterday and his daughter read this poem and I realized just how short life really is .
My god that’s what it mean so let me make sure that the dash means that Kim was awesome person she loved every body and there skin Colour did not matter because there blood is red
So beautiful I am printing this of for a very good friend who has just lost her son
I heard this at my mates Dads funeral, I found the words to be very moving.thank you
This was Inspiring Thank You.
My moms life was full of kindness, joy and enthusiasm! She loved her kids and her husband and her grandchildren. She loved being alive! She wanted her life to go on! So did we!
The forum is a brghiter place thanks to your posts. Thanks!
This is beautiful
I heard these words at a funeral of a friend last week. I am now nearly 80 years old and thought of how much that “Dash” will mean when I pass on. I am now thankful that I have tried to be a caring and loving husband, dad and friend.
I love your poem and am asking if I may print it to keep with me.
yes
I have always enjoy the wisdom in the words it truly is beautiful
I would like to post your poem on Facebook in memory of a wonderful teacher, neighbor and friend who was taken from us much too soon, but whose dash is memorable!
Yes you may. Thank you for asking. Please keep my name as author with it.
Thank you for writing this. I was looking for something to read tomorrow morning at my mother-in-law’s service. This is exactly what I was looking for.
A great poem… with lots of feelings, congratulations.
Stanley K. Kaminski
Thank you for your kind words Stanley.
Mr. Tranmer, you have no idea how your insightful words were just the thing that I needed to read today. They gave me new prospective to an extremely tough situation I am currently facing. My mother has Alzheimer’s and I have the task of seeing her deplete right before my very eyes. Your words were almost like reset because of looking at her in her current state, I should be remembering who she was and be thankful for her created me. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words Fred. comments like yours inspire me to keep writing. Have you read my “Alzheimers”poem?
Hi Ron, Thank you for sharing your words, for they touch my heart. What a gift you have been given, for your use of words have helped so many. I’m asking you if you would please share your Alzheimer’s poem, my family is going through memory issues and are crushed watching their loved ones become lost. Thank you for your consideration Ron.
God Bless you!
Kathy
Here it is Kathy. Feel free to share it with your family. The gender can be changed to “She doesn’t know him…” if you like.
Alzheimer’s … Love’s Greatest Test
He doesn’t know her anymore
but she knows who he is.
Her husband, and her sweetheart
and father of their kids.
She made a humble vow to him
upon their wedding day
that she would love and cherish,
and honor come what may.
There is no greater test of love,
or greater lesson learned,
than from those whose given love
no longer is returned.
His memory has been taken
but will one day be restored
by the grace and healing power
that will come from our dear Lord.
What pure and heartfelt gratitude
that day will be expressed
by he whose faithful sweetheart
passed love’s greatest test.
Ron Tranmer©
I like this version so much better than the original. Thank you for these words to help my Church class understand the importance of living a Christ centered life.
Thanks Annette. I didn’t care much for the earlier version myself, so I re-wrote it. Glad you agreer.
Mr. Tranmer,
I heard the Poem “Dash” the first time yesterday at a friends funeral. It has left quite the impression on me. May I please print this poem so I may pass it on to people I know that may be in need of hearing such true and caring words?
This poem speaks to me. I heard it recently at a friend’s funeral.
I am pre-planning my funeral and would love my children to read this. However I am to be cremated. Do you have a poem that would speak about the dash even though cremation has taken place?
I have modified my “The Dash Between” for cremation, and named it “The Dash Upon Your Urn
THE DASH UPON YOUR URN
I read your name upon the urn
and as I read, I cried.
Etched beneath your name was
date of birth – and date you died .
I pondered these two dates
and how little they both mean
when compared to the tiny dash
that lies there in between.
For, the dash is as an emblem
of our time here on the earth.
And although small, it stands for all
our years of life and worth.
And our worth will be determined
by how we live each day.
We can fill our dash with goodness,
or waste our life away.
To ourselves, as well as others,
let’s be honest, kind and true…
And live our lives in the way
we know God wants us to.
Let us look for opportunities
to do a worthy deed,
showing love and understanding
to those who are in need.
For If our hearts are full of love,
throughout our journey here,
we’ll be loved by all who knew us
and our memory they’ll hold dear.
And when we die, those memories
will bring grateful, loving tears
to all whose lives were touched
by the dash between our years.
Ron Tranmer©
Thank you Mr. Tanner for posting this version. You see my uncle passed away yesterday and his wishes are to be cremated. With your permission I would like to print this version (with your name and the author, of course),
Cyndi, Yes you may.
Mr. Tranmer,
Thank you for writing this beautiful poem that speaks to so many. I have been asked to write the eulogy for my little sister’s memorial service. She died way too young, she was only 59. May I have your permission to The Dash Upon Your Urn as part of her eulogy?
Mr. Tranmer,
I have an unusual request. I am an 82-year-old woman and I am attempting to write my life story. At first, it was just for my family but I may offer it for sale on Amazon. I would like to name my book “My Dash”
Would I be infringing on your copywriting for this poem? And I would like to include your poem. How do I proceed?
I have tried to follow the Golden Rule from the Bible, failing many times but that is my dash. Thank you,
I too am 82. Yes, you have permission. Just be sure my name as author is included.
Ron
Heard this at a dear friends funeral service and it brought great comfort Would like to share on face book. Thanks Pat Tiedeman
I recently learned of this poem from a friend who hears it read at a funeral. She was moved as I was when I read it. My husband has had Alzheimer’s for 10 years and your poem keeps me focused. I shared it today with the Minister ( pastoral care) because so many of us need to remember the concept of the worth between the years of birth and death. Thank you for writing this so clearly and beautifully.
Hi from Australia, I am an art student, your poem has been with me ever since I attended the funeral of a dear friend, his son read your poem, gave you credit as an amazing poet and proceeded to say his father read it to him regularly as he was growing up. My friend was a journalist many years ago in New Zealand and dabbled in poetry as well. I have found inspiration in your words and would like to credit you for that inspiration in my assignment. But for me to do so, I need to add your poem ‘The Dash Between’ as part of my portfolio, so am requesting your permission to add it in please.
King regards
Jude
Judy,
I’m so sorry I haven’t checked into my site for a couple of weeks. If not too late, Yes, you have my permission.
Thank you for sharing this poem.I heard it today first time at a friends brothers graveside service.It silenced even the infant in attendance!
Love this! We lost my dad a year ago yesterday☹️ My mom went to a concert last night and one of the musicians talked for a moment before the encore, not sure what the last song was, but, he told a story about the DASH. My mom was in tears, but, the timing was good, because my dad made good use of his DASH and touched so many lives. I found this after she told me about the story and I shared it with her on FB. Thank you for a beautiful poem. Traci
Thank you Traci.
Thankyou so much!! Beautifully written. So perfect for my friend funeral this week. May I please read it… and think of you
I just wish I had found your poem before now. Now is January 17, 2022. My husband of 56 years’ Service was June 12, 2021. The grandchildren read poems at his Service, I wish they could have read this one, too. It is so beautiful, it moves me to tears. It is so perfect. Thank you for its meaning.
Eudovo,
I apologize for being so bad at checking my mail on my website. I get many requests for using my poetry for personal use. As stated on my site that my poetry can be used for personal use as long as it is not sold.
Do you have any poems about a mother having dementia and a daughter that takes care of her?
Could I please have a copy of your poem, “The Dash Between”? I was at a funeral service today and they shared that poem. It was very touching.
Sorry for the late response. I am 85 now, and unable to monitor my website as often as I would like. You can make a copy from my website.