We received the following poem by e-mail that is spread around the world upon the request of a little girl with cancer.

     Have you ever watched kids

       on a merry-go-round

     or listened to the rain

       slapping on the ground?

     Ever followed a butterfly's

       erratic flight

     or gazed at the sun into the

       fading night?

     You better slow down

       Don't dance so fast

     Time is short

       The music won't last

     Do you 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 hundred chores

       running through  your head?

     You 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 see his sorrow?

     Ever lost touch,

       Let a good friendship die

     'Cause you never had time

       to call and say "Hi"?

     You'd 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.