The Dash Poem by dino evans

Have you ever see a headstone, with the dates of life and death? ..
There always seems to be a dash between...
That dash is every moment, that a person ever lived...
But only birth and death are what is seen...

The dash is when you lived, and your life took shape for you...
And found the path that led you, to the date...
Engraved upon some headstone, somewhere, lost in fields of stone...
Forgotten, and ignored by time, and fate...

Explain to me, what's in the line, the dash, that's there to see...
Why not leave it blank on the stone? ...
But then family, love and friends, you've had throughout your life...
Would leave you on this marker, all alone...

Without you in my dash, I know, Our love just wouldn't be...
You are there, embedded in that line...
Somewhere lost to memory, but there, so deep inside...
I know, but for a moment, you were mine...

The time we spent together, is there inside the dash...
Within the line, our time together glows...
You've given me a part of you that's there, forever shining...
Look inside my dash, I know it shows...

I'm thankful for the memories, I've learned to see into...
This marker that defines the life I've led...
You complete my dash, and please remember too...
You're there, you're clear, as are the things we said...

You gave to me the things a lover gives, and more...
Then walked away in tears, but not alone...
I walked with you, we shed our tears and then I held your hand...
And you stayed there with me, engraved in stone...

Don't grieve girl, please don't cry, nor concern yourself with me...
My dates were set, and God has seen to this...
Just know that being here, within my dash protects...
Me from the loneliness, and I keep the loving kiss...

Because that is my life you know, that's caught between the years...
That only wind and rain now come to see...
As years go on and on, and time begins to slow...
You inside my dash, quiets my fears...

Think of all the people that you've known, wanted to love...
And think about the dash, between YOUR dates to come...
Think about the line upon the stone, that lies above...
Of all of those there with you, will I, ? .. am I one? ...

I know you'll be in mine, because I can't forget...
And life seems just to rush by, in a flash...
I don't have, and don't want you, to have any regret...
I'm glad you were a part love, of my dash...

Dean Evans 12-27-06