Story - Rainbow Bridge

[Mantis]

A basenji mom sent this to me. I had known that the Rainbow Bridge was a commonly used phrase for a basenji passing and didn't know the story. I dont know if you want to make this a sticky for other readers.

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...

[red and white furever]

Mantis - eveytime I read this poem I get sniffly and teary eyed. It's one of my all time favorites - thank-you for posting it!

[red and white furever]

Reading this made me remember some poems I had saved in a word document. Perhaps they'll bring comfort for those of you who have lost a beloved companion.

I Loved You Best
by Jim Willis

So this is where we part, My Friend,
You'll run on, around the bend,
Gone from sight, but not from mind,
New pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on, I'll find the strength,
Life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look, before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true,
But they be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
Will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
Take with you this…I loved you best.

Lend Me A Pup
Author unknown

---

I will lend to you for awhile,
a pup, God said,
For you to love him while he lives
and mourn for him when he's dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years,
or maybe two or three
But will you, 'till I call him back,
take care of him for me.
He'll bring his charms to gladden you
and (should his stay be brief)
you'll always have his memories
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn.
I've looked the whole world over
in search of teachers true
And from the folk that crowd life's land
I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love
Nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to take my Pup back again.
I fancied that I heard them say
"Dear Lord Thy Will be Done,"
For all the joys this Pup will bring,
the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness
we'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay
But should you call him back
much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and try to understand.
If, by our love, we've managed,
your wishes to achieve
In memory of him we loved,
to help us while we grieve,
When our faithful bundle departs this world of strife,
We'll have yet another Pup and love him all his life.

My Gift to Jesus
By Jane L. Sears

I wish someone had given little Jesus a dog
as loyal and loving as mine
to sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
and adore Him for being devine.

As our Lord grew to manhood, His own faithful dog
would have followed Him through the day
while He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
and knelt in the Garden to pray.

It is sad to remember that Christ went away
to face death alone and apart
with no tender dog following behind
to comfort its Master's heart.

And when Jesus rose that Easter morn,
how happy He would have been
as His dog kissed His hand and barked it's delight
for the One who died for all men!

Well, the Lord has a dog now: I just sent Him mine,
the old pal so dear to me,
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
knowing they're in eternity

I Stood Beside Your Bed Last Night
Author Unknown

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear.
"Its me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here"

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea.
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore.
I want to take your parcels, I wished I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for the key,
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me".

You looked so very tired and then you sank into a chair,
I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

Its possible for me to be so near you everyday,
to say to you with certainty "I never went away".

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew
That in the stillness of that evening I was very close to you.

The day is over…. I smile and watch you yawning
and say, " Good Night, Sweet Dreams, God Bless,
I'll see you in the morning".

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide
I'll rush to greet you and well stand together side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there's much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out; then come home and be with me

Old Dogs Do Not Die
Author Unknown

We have a secret you and I,
That no one else shall know,
For who but I can see you lie,
Each night, in fireglow?
And who but I can reach my hand
Before I go to bed,
And feel the living warmth of you
And touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths,
And see, ahead of me,
Your small form racing with the wind,
So young again, and free!
And only I can see you swim
In every brook I pass.
And, when I call, no one but I
Can see the bending grass.

OLD DOG IN A LOCKET
Author Unknown

Old dog in a locket
That lies next to my heart
I will always love you
As I did right from the start
You were right beside me
Through the darkest of my days
It was your kind and gentle nature
That made me want to stay.

Now I hold you in my arms
Your breath still warm against my hand
Our hearts still beat together
And I wonder if you understand
Through the hours that I held you
Before the light did leave your soul
I knew a way to keep you
Forever in my hold.

I snipped the hair from around your eyes
So I would always see
The beauty that surrounds me
Even in times of need
I snipped the hair from around your ears
So I would always hear
Music in the distance
To quiet any fears.

I snipped the hair from across your back
To bring me strength in times of need
And the power of your essence
Would always be with me.
I snipped the hair from around your heart
That beats in time with mine
So I would know that love would find me
At some distant time.

And so your life slipped out of mine
On a quiet, spring like day
But I knew that part of you
Was always here to stay.
Old dog in a locket
That lays next to my heart
I will always love you
Even though we had to part.

[Mantis]

Life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look, before I grieve.

this part was hard to read, but it is nice to read someone else relating to that moment….

[Arti]

…this such sad when our friend dies...you see...

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

[MyDamian]

I was reading all of thoes poems and I started to cry. They are exactly what I feel and think. Thank you for sharing them.

[Mantis]

There is something so bitter sweet about having support when you go through this type of loss. It is so beautiful to have support from basenji owners that you may have never met, but understand how you are feeling. A true comfort, when you are feeling separated from that special pet.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

Beautiful…

[JazzysMom]

That first one – I Loved You Best -- got to me.

More than it would have if all my dogs were young. But reading it with Gypsy at my feet . . . . it really got to me. I've had dogs before, but none of them were her, and none will ever be again. She's quite a gal, my Gypsy, and it pains my heart to see her slowing down, the once gold hair on her face fading to a sort of silvery, those once brilliant eyes becoming dim. Yeah, it's gonna kill me to have to say goodbye to her. . . at some point in the WAY distant future.

[nomrbddgs]

You guys are making me cry for all of the lost souls I'm waiting to be reunited with!

[hdterry]

I am sitting here crying…I am thinking about the fur babies I have lost and hope my Jojo (11 yrs. young) wil be around for many years because I don't want to go through that again even though it is a part of life...a part of loving...