The Rainbow Bridge Poem

The Rainbow Bridge Poem – A Timeless Tribute of Love and Reunion The Original

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 the Rainbow Bridge together…

Authorship update
While this beloved poem was long attributed to “Author Unknown,” research by art-historian and author Paul Koudounaris uncovered the original manuscript and traced it to Edna Clyne-Rekhy, who reportedly wrote it in 1959 after the loss of her dog Major.

Remember the ones who loved you best.
Their stories live on.

These Rainbow Bridge tributes are made possible by the generosity of those who believe in rescue, remembrance, and love that never fades.

Please consider making a small donation to Rescued by Rembrandt (RBR).

Tales from the Dogverse

Tales from the Dogverse is honored to support Rescued by Rembrandt (RBR) — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping animal rescues share their stories and find forever homes.

You are warmly welcome to share or repost these Rainbow Bridge tributes, provided that credit is given to Tales from the Dogverse or Rescued by Rembrandt (RBR).

If these stories touch your heart, please consider making a small donation to RBR.
Every contribution helps fund memorial storytelling, rescue support, and creative outreach that gives voice to the voiceless.

💙 Tales from the Dogverse is a storytelling channel celebrating the love, humor, and legacy of rescue animals — where every bark, wag, and whisper becomes a story worth remembering.

👉 Learn more or donate: https://rescuedbyrembrandt.org

Fact or Myth?

For centuries, the black dog — and the black cat — have carried the weight of superstition.
They’ve been whispered about in folklore as omens of death or misfortune, their presence casting long shadows across crossroads, moors, and hearts alike.

Let's Rewrite the Myth

But maybe those stories were never about fear.
Maybe they were about power.

Here at Rescued by Rembrandt, we see something different — something sacred.
Their dark coats don’t carry darkness; they absorb it.
Like living obsidian, they guard against what others cannot see — diffusing negative energy, softening sorrow, and standing quietly between us and the unseen.

They are not cursed.
They are called.

The black dog and cat are not bad luck — they are our spiritual warriors, cloaked in shadow so we might stand in the light.