A friend forwarded this poem to me over the weekend – a poem written by a teen with cancer.  I’m sure I’ve read it before, and I decided to publish it here for its poignancy, simplicity and wisdom.  It’s something we need to read from time to time to enable us to regain our grounding when life gets a little too fast paced and hectic.  And it’s the beautiful summer time.  A perfect time to slow down!

Here it is:

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever follow a butterfly’s erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down.  Don’t dance so fast…

Time is short; The music won’t last.

Do you ever run through each day, on the fly?

When you ask How are you?  Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed

With the next 100 chores, running through your head?

You’d better slow down, don’t dance so fast.

Time is short; the music won’t last.

Ever told your child…we’ll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste, not seen his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die?

Cause you never had time to call and say hi.

You better slow down; don’t dance so fast.

Time is short; the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift, thrown away.

Life is not a race, do take it slower

Hear the music before the song is over.