The Dash Poem Free Printable | Official Guide – If you searched for The Dash Poem free printable, you are not alone. Families across the United States look for a clean copy to read at a funeral, include in a memorial program, or keep as a reminder of how they want to live.
Here is the important part first: The Dash is a copyrighted poem. Many “free PDF” pages online are not authorized. The good news is that the rights holder does allow specific free uses for funerals, obituaries, and personal memorials when you follow the official rules.
This page explains what the poem means, how to use it legally, and where to find official text, licenses, and print products.
What Is The Dash Poem?
The Dash was written in 1996 by American poet Linda Ellis. It is now owned and licensed by Southwestern Family of Companies.
The poem uses a simple image almost every American has seen on a headstone: two dates with a short dash between them. That dash stands for a whole life—the years of work, love, mistakes, kindness, and everyday choices. The poem asks whether we would be proud of how we spent that time.
People request a Dash poem printable for:
- Funeral and celebration-of-life programs
- Obituaries
- Memorial videos
- Classroom or church readings
- Personal reflection and framing
It has been read at public memorials in the U.S., including at former Sen. Bob Dole’s funeral.
You can read the full official text on the rights holder’s site. The official page labels it a non-printable version, which is a reminder that copying and circulating a designed PDF is not the same as reading the poem online.
Read The Dash on the official website
Is There a Legitimate Free Printable?
There is no official free downloadable poster or framing PDF released for general home use.
What is available for free, under official terms:
- Live recitation at funerals, memorials, and other tributes if you credit Linda Ellis while you read it.
- One-time print use in a funeral or memorial program, or in a print or online obituary for a loved one, if you include the required credit line.
- One-time use in a non-monetized memorial video for a loved one, with the same credit line.
- Personal one-time use of the poem or an excerpt on a loved one’s headstone or grave marker.
Those permissions come from the official licensing page, not from random printable blogs.
See official free license terms
If a website offers “grab your free Dash poem PDF” with decorative borders and no permission notice, treat it as unauthorized. Downloadable prints are listed by the rights holder as a use that needs a separate license.
How to Print The Dash Poem for a Funeral Program?
This is the most common legal path for U.S. families.
What you may do for free (one time):
Include the full original poem in a printed funeral or memorial program, or in a print or online obituary for a loved one.
What you must include, prominently:
The Dash poem by Linda Ellis, © Southwestern Family of Companies, Used by Permission.
What you may not do under that free license:
- Change the wording
- Sell programs, cards, or framed copies
- Post a downloadable printable for the public
- Use a redesigned “pretty PDF” from an unofficial site as if it were licensed
Practical tip for funeral homes and families: paste the official credit under the poem in the same type size as other source notes in the program. Keep the poem unedited. If you only want a few lines, mark them as an excerpt.
For uses beyond a one-time family service—bulk cards, classroom packets, church websites, blogs, or framed art—request a license through the official form on the licensing page. The site notes applications are reviewed in turn and can take about four weeks.
Official Places to Get a Printed Copy
If you want a physical card or reminder rather than a DIY printout, use official products instead of unofficial Etsy or Pinterest files.
The official Live Your Dash store sells licensed items such as Dash poem reminder cards and greeting cards. These are paid products, not free printables, but they are the legitimate way to hand out a printed copy.
Shop official Dash poem cards and gifts
Linda Ellis also maintains her own site, where she shares the original poem, the story behind it, and newer work. She notes that the original poem is now owned by Southwestern Family of Companies. Paid author prints may be offered there or through her shop; they are not a substitute for the Southwestern license on the original poem.
Visit Linda Ellis’s official site
Read the story behind The Dash
The Dash Poem Free Printable | Official Guide
How to Use The Dash Poem at a Service?
You do not need a printed PDF to use the poem well.
Reading it aloud
Credit the author during the reading: say that the poem is The Dash by Linda Ellis. That is the official condition for live recitation.
In the program
Use the one-time free print license and the required copyright line.
In a memorial slideshow
You may include the poem in a non-monetized video for a loved one if the same credit appears on screen. Do not upload a monetized version or a public “free download” file.
On a headstone
Families have a personal one-time free license for a loved one’s marker. Monument companies that want to sell the poem as a product need their own license.
In a classroom or church bulletin
That is usually not covered by the funeral-program license. Ask for permission first.
Why Random Free Printables Are a Problem?
The Dash spread quickly online after 1996. Many people assumed it was public domain. It is not.
U.S. copyright still covers the poem. Unofficial “free printable” pages, redesigned posters, and editable Google Docs can create legal risk for a church, school, or funeral home. The official site states the poem may be used only with permission and that unlicensed use may be treated as infringement.
For families, the safer route is also the simpler one: read the official text, recite it with credit, and print it only under the free memorial license.
Quick Comparison: Free vs. Licensed Use
| Use | Usually free? | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Read it live at a funeral | Yes | Credit Linda Ellis while reading |
| One program or obituary for a loved one | Yes | Required Southwestern credit line |
| Non-monetized family memorial video | Yes | Required credit line on screen |
| Personal headstone for a loved one | Yes | Personal one-time license terms |
| Decorative home printable / framed poster | No | Paid or requested license |
| Cards sold or handed out in bulk | No | Official store or commercial license |
| Website, blog, or school packet | No | Written license |
FAQ
Can I download The Dash Poem free printable as a PDF?
Not from an official free file. The official website posts a non-printable reading copy. A one-time funeral-program print is allowed with the required credit. A general “print and frame this PDF” file is not offered for free.
Who owns The Dash Poem?
Linda Ellis wrote it. Southwestern Family of Companies now owns and licenses the poem and the LIVE YOUR DASH trademark.
Can I change names or lines to personalize it?
The standard licenses cover the original wording. Modified versions are not allowed under those terms. If you need a custom tribute, write original words or request permission.
Is it okay to share the poem on Facebook or in an email?
Posting the full poem publicly is not the same as the funeral-program license. Link to the official page instead of copying the full text.
Where should I send guests who want a copy?
Send them to thedashpoem.com or to official cards from the Southwestern store.
A Better Way to “Get the Printable”
If your goal is a funeral reading, you already have what you need:
- Open the official poem page and read the authorized text.
- Recite it at the service and name Linda Ellis.
- If it belongs in the program, print it once with the official credit line.
- If you want keepsake cards, buy licensed cards rather than a random free PDF.
That approach respects the writer, protects your church or funeral home, and still gives families the poem they came looking for.
The Dash endures because the message is simple. The dates mark a beginning and an end. The life is in the line between them. Getting a clean copy matters. Getting it the right way matters too.