The Rainbow Bridge Poem: its history, its influence, its words

The Popularity and Origin of the Rainbow Bridge Poem

The idea that beloved pets who’ve left this life go to a beautiful, happy place on the way to Heaven called the Rainbow Bridge is now a commonplace in the English-speaking world. Indeed, it is by now so well accepted that many people sincerely believe that there is a place ‘this side of Heaven’ where pets play together as they await their owners to one day join them. And, they take tremendous comfort from the notion.

The origin of the Rainbow bridge is in the imagination of the author of a poem that has circulated anonymously for about 60 years. Various parties have come forward to claim authorship of the poem, but after a thorough investigation a few years ago, National Geographic identified her as Edna Clyne Rheky, a Scottish lass, who is now in her seventies. Edna, who was nineteen at the time, wrote the poem to her dear old dog, Major. In honour of Edna’s immense legacy - so many hearts have found healing from her poem - a portion of any proceeds from my Rainbow Bridge suite of memorials is donated to my favourite charity, the Cat Adoption Foundation, here in Adelaide, South Australia.

To return to Edna’s poem, what you’d probably most like to read now is its words. So, here they are for you:

The Rainbow Bridge Poem

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

The Rainbow Bridge Poem as Inspiration

In honour of Edna’s poem, I offer Rainbow Bridge Poem memorials. One of them features Edna’s poem, which I personalise with the name, species and sex of dearly departed pets, and the other is one that features a little poem that I wrote myself. It offers words of solace that do not speak of a place called Heaven, but instead of the heart. Here it is, personalised to commemorate my darling cat, Abe, who left this world a few years ago:

“They say there is place this side of Heaven called the Rainbow Bridge where my beloved Abe lives still. I think that place must be in my heart, because I feel him there, loving me, and I always will’.  

I genuinely do feel Abe in my heart. There’s a knot there when I think of him, a small pain. It is that pain that the Rainbow Bridge Poem’s, Edna’s and now mine, is intended to heal.

If you are grieving the loss of your pet, perhaps you too will be inspired to do something creative in their honour. Allowing yourself the freedom of being creative, allowing yourself to move through the world with inspiration, can be a very healing way to manage your grief, and of course, what a legacy it leaves behind in the name of your pet! Literally hundreds of thousands of people now know about Edna’s beloved Major, and now whoever reads this will know about my dear old man, Abe, too.  Perhaps you write, perhaps you paint, perhaps you garden, perhaps you play the guitar…No matter your art or craft, you can turn it into something that will shape your sadness into peace, serenity, and the fond contemplation of cherished memories. Trust me, I know.