The Rainbow Bridge Poem

Originally Posted by Barb 06-04-2004 01:02 PM

Rainbow Bridge

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....




Author unknown

Originally posted by Kathysmith 08-21-2004 09:24 PM

always tear up when I read that one....and this one...

If it should be that I grow weak...

If it should be that I grow weak,

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done,

For this last battle can't be won.



You will be sad I understand,

Don't let your grief control your hand,

For this day more than all the rest,

Your love for me must stand the test.



We've had so many happy years,

What is to come can hold no fears,

You'd not want me to suffer so,

The time as come, please let me go.



Take me where my needs they'll tend,

And please stay with me until the end,

Hold me firm & speak to me,

Until my eyes no longer see.



I know in time that you will see,

The kindness that you do for me,

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I've been saved.



Please do not grieve it must be you,

Who has this painful thing to do,

We've been so close for all these years,

Don't let your heart hold back your tears.


Oringally Posted by Laken 01-24-2005 05:19 PM

The Bridge poem never truly hit me until I saw the flash animation version of it.

The Rainbow Bridge

Originally Posted by Rinkrat 04-20-2005 07:01 AM
[QUOTE]He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn't come at all.
When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn't drag.
He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn't read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story's long to tell.
Suffice it to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house--
I guess I'm the first to retire.
And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I'd give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I'd fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He'd tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I'd feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel this stare
And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I'd feel him sigh
and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he'd be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,
But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,
I'll always love a dog named Beau.

Oringally Posted by Mad's_Dad 08-02-2005 05:46 PM

I am sitting here with tears running down my cheeks after reading these poems....especially the second one where the owner is being told "thank you" for doing what must be done.

This poem hits me especially hard becasue this Friday (8/5/05), my wife and I are taking Dusty (our oldest) in to have him put to sleep. https://web.archive.org/web/201308270...es/kleenex.gif

Not being able to have children ourselves, Dusty has been our son for the past 14 years and has brought an endless supply of love and laughter into our lives. But earlier this year Dusty was diagnosed with cancer and the x-ray showed a tumor in his abdomen that was larger than my fist. Considering that he weighed around 35 pounds, you can imagine how this looked on the x-ray. The vet said that surgery would most likely kill him and that with this type of tumor, we should just enjoy him while he is with us. She said that this type of tumor will usually crack and that the animal will usually "bleed out" in about 30 minutes once that happens but that it isn't painfull.

Well in the last 2 weeks or so, Dusty has gone down-hill fast. He has stopped showing any interest in playing with madison (our 3 1/2 year old Lab) or in playing with any of thier toys. He has all but stopped eating and when we can get him to eat, he gets sick and throws it back up...all he does anymore is lay in his crate.

Having been raised around dogs all my life (my mom was a breeder of dashounds), I have been through the experience of having to put dogs to sleep though I have to admit, none has affected me the way this is. FOr my wife and Madison though, this is a new experience and neither of them are handling it well at all. The other day, Madison broke our hearts when she took Dusty's favorite toy into the bedroom where his crate is and dropped it outside the door to his crate a couple of times. When Dusty didn't even raise his head or show any interest, she picked up his toy, stuck her head in his crate and layed the toy beside him before laying down with her muzzle touching his where she stayed for the rest of the day. Needless to say, I had a huge lump in my throat and my wife started crying and was unable to stop for along time.

I would like to thank you for providing this place where those of us who have lost or are about to lose one of our "children" can come to express and share our grief. I would also ask that those of you who are so inclined, please pray for my wife and Madison, that God would give them the strength and serenity that they both could use during this time.

My thoughts and prayers for those of you out there who are also grieving for lost loved ones. May God give you peace in the knowledge that your beloved ones are happy and safe and awaiting you at the rainbow bridge where you will once again be reunited.

Mad's_Dad

Originally posted by Lovindogs 01-08-2007 10:39 PM

High up in the courts of Heaven today
A little dog angel waits;
With the other angels he will not play
But sits alone at the gates.
"I know that my master will come, says he
And when he comes he will call for me."
He sees the spirits that pass him by
As they hasten toward the throne;
And he watches them with a wistful eye
As he sits at the gates alone.
"I know if I just wait patiently
Some day my master will come," says he.
And his master, far on the earth below,
As he sits in his easy chair,
Forgets sometimes and he whistles low
For the dog that isn't there.
And the little dog angel cocks his ears
And dreams that his master's call he hears.
I know when at last his master waits
Outside in the dark and cold,
For the hand of Death to open the gates
That lead to those courts of gold,
The little dog angel's eager bark
Will comfort his soul in the shivering dark.