The Rainbow Bridge poem has been a source of comfort for millions of people grieving a lost pet. Written in 1959 by a 19-year-old Scottish artist and animal lover named Edna Clyne-Rekhy, whose identity has only been confirmed recently. These words, though, and various adaptations of them, have been printed on all types of memorabilia and shared in every medium.
I dedicate, with my deepest sympathy, the adaptation of this poem to Karen Floyd and her family after the recent loss of her beloved senior dog, Booger…
– Vikki Scott
Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies who has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all our special friends, so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day will come when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
Suddenly, he begins to break away 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.
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.