The Dash Poem People tend to think about death a few times; it’s inevitable. They play out different scenarios of how it could occur. What doesn’t cross their mind is everything they have or haven’t done with their lives. “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, gives an awakening and a realization that one has the ability to change. The poem creates a perfect image of a man at his friend’s funeral. While the reader can visualize the tombstone surrounded by flowers of all colors and shapes, with the dates, and the small dash between them. He speaks about the dash and that the little line symbolizes life. That dash is important because it makes one ponder about life; therefore, creating an awakening. An awakening can occur within anyone. For example, someone