The “Rainbow Bridge” poem is iconic. Each pet lover that has cherished and misplaced an expensive pet member of the family has doubtless seen this poem – on the vet’s workplace, from a buddy, in a card or e mail maybe? What it’s possible you’ll not have observed is that the writer of the poem was at all times thought of “nameless,” that’s, till now because of a person named Paul Koudounaris.
Paul, an artwork historian and writer from Tucson, Arizona, spent a decade researching and verifying the poem’s authorship earlier than discovering its true writer, Edna Clyne-Rekhy.
The Historical past of “Rainbow Bridge”
Edna Clyne-Rekhy, now 82 years previous, is a Scottish artist and animal lover. She has lastly been credited with authoring the beloved poem ‘Rainbow Bridge’ because of the detective work of Paul Koudounaris. The poem has been the supply of consolation for hundreds of thousands of pet mother and father around the globe.
She wrote the poem again in 1959, as a approach to grieve her canine, a Labrador Retriever named Main. When she was 19, Main died in her arms and Edna was devastated by the loss. She expressed her intense grief to her mom who then prompted Edna to jot down her emotions down, hoping it’d assist with the sense of loss.
She saved the poem largely to herself and shared it with a number of mates. These mates have been so touched by the poem that Edna hand-typed out a number of copies for them however didn’t title herself because the writer – by no means imagining that there was a necessity. Till now, Edna had no data that since 1959, her poem has traveled around the globe providing consolation and hope to pet homeowners all over the place. Her poem even captured the eye of Abigail Van Buren of the uber-popular “Pricey Abby” column within the U.S. the place “Rainbow Bridge” was posted in a “Pricey Abby” column in 1994.
Paul Koudounaris’ Instagram Account Breaking The Information
When Paul lastly found that Edna was the writer and contacted her, she was in disbelief:
“I’m completely surprised,” she says. “I’m nonetheless in a state of shock.”
You see, astonishingly, Edna had no concept that her poem, written greater than 60 years in the past had traveled the globe and comforted hundreds of thousands of pet homeowners. How is that attainable, you would possibly marvel…? Edna had moved away from Scotland to an olive farm in India and had no concept.
If it weren’t for the tireless effort of Paul Koudounaris, we would by no means know who the writer was.
“‘Rainbow Bridge’ supplies the lacking piece for individuals who have needed to reside with this nervousness that their animal just isn’t adequate to deserve an afterlife,” Koudounaris says. “It provides us a cause to hope.”
The Rainbow Bridge Poem by Edna Clyne-Rekhy
Simply this aspect of heaven is a spot known as Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been particularly near somebody right here, your pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our particular mates to allow them to run and play collectively. There may be loads of meals, water, and sunshine, and mates are heat and cozy. All of the animals who’ve been ailing and previous are restored to well being and energy, those that have been damage are made higher and powerful once more, like we keep in mind them earlier than they go to heaven. They’re comfortable and content material apart from one small factor—they every miss somebody very particular to them who needed to be left behind. All of them run and play collectively, however the day comes when one all of a sudden stops and appears into the gap. His vibrant eyes are shining, his physique shakes. Out of the blue he begins to run from the herd, speeding over the grass, his legs carrying him quicker and quicker, and if you and your particular buddy lastly meet, you cuddle in a cheerful hug by no means to be aside once more. You and your pet are in tears. Your fingers once more cuddle his head and also you look once more into his trusting eyes, so lengthy gone from life, however by no means absent out of your coronary heart, and you then cross the Rainbow Bridge collectively.
So why has this poem develop into iconic amongst pet mother and father all over the place? Paul Koudounaris speculates that it has one thing to do with faith and that some religions didn’t or don’t consider animals have souls and due to this fact, couldn’t go to heaven:
“‘Rainbow Bridge’ supplies the lacking piece for individuals who have needed to reside with this nervousness that their animal just isn’t adequate to deserve an afterlife,” Koudounaris says. “It provides us a cause to hope.”
“Rainbow Bridge” offered the reassurance that pet homeowners wanted to really feel that their deep reference to their pets would reside on, in some way, someplace a way. And it nonetheless does so to this present day.
An article was featured in Nationwide Geographic on February 22, 2023 for those who’d prefer to learn extra about it. Additionally try the unique story and murals historian Paul Koudounaris on his Instagram account (@hexenkult). Thanks to Paul Koudounaris for locating the writer… and an enormous thanks to Edna Clyne-Rekhy for giving the world such an attractive present.
