Rainbow Bridge Poem & Words of Comfort

The Rainbow Bridge poem has comforted grieving pet owners for decades, but its words belong to their author, Edna Clyne-Rekhy. Here we share the story behind it, an original poem of our own you're free to use, and gentle words of comfort for a pet's passing.

When a pet dies, people often reach for the Rainbow Bridge poem. It puts a wordless grief into images of a sunlit meadow and a promised reunion. Below is where that poem came from, why we don't reprint it, and comforting words you can use freely.

The story behind the poem

The original Rainbow Bridge poem was written in 1959 by Edna Clyne-Rekhy, a Scottish woman who was nineteen when her dog Major died. She wrote it for herself, then shared typed copies with friends.

Those copies spread for decades with no name attached, and the author was a mystery until 2023, when researcher Paul Koudounaris confirmed Edna as its writer. The poem is hers, so out of respect we point you to the version credited to her rather than reprinting it here.

An original poem you can use freely

We wrote this so you'd have words to keep, share, or place on a memorial, with no worry about whose they are. They're yours.

No more the ache, no more the night,
only a field washed gold with light.
You run again the way you did,
quick and whole, the way you lived.

I hold the leash you'll never need,
and still I feel you at my speed.
Wait where the grass meets open sky —
love doesn't end. It learns to fly.

Use it however helps. On a card, beside a photo, read aloud in a quiet moment. It asks nothing in return.

Short words of comfort

Sometimes you need a single line, for a card, a caption, or just to hold. These are simple and free to use.

• Loved beyond words, missed beyond measure.
• Their pawprints stay long after they're gone.
• Not gone from the heart, only from the room.
• Forever our good dog. Forever our friend.
• Until we meet again, rest easy.

What to say to someone else

If you're comforting a grieving pet owner, the kindest words are specific and simple. Name the pet. "I'm so sorry about Bella, she was such a sweet dog" says more than any poem.

Avoid trying to fix the grief or rush it. You don't need the perfect words; you just need to show you understand this was a real loss. Presence matters more than eloquence.

Turning words into a keepsake

Many people like to pair a line of comfort with their pet's photo on something lasting. A Rainbow Bridge canvas or a personalized keepsake can hold a favorite line alongside their face and name, keeping both the words and the memory close.

However you use them, words like these do one gentle thing: they give love a shape when the heart is too full for anything else.