What do you say when someone's pet has crossed the Rainbow Bridge?

Say the pet's name. "I'm so sorry about [pet name]. They were clearly loved." Ask about a memory. Avoid "at least they had a good life" or "you can always get another." Pawrora's guide on supporting someone who lost a pet at /how-to-support-someone-who-lost-a-pet goes into more detail.

Is the Rainbow Bridge copyrighted?

The question is nuanced. Edna Clyne-Rekhy was confirmed as the author in 2023 but has not asserted restrictive copyright. In interviews she has said she is glad the poem brings comfort and does not want to change that. The poem has circulated freely for over 60 years and is generally treated as functionally public domain, though formal copyright status remains her rights as the confirmed author.

Was Edna Clyne-Rekhy still alive when her authorship was confirmed?

Yes. She was 82 years old at the time of the February 2023 National Geographic confirmation, living in Scotland. She gave interviews about the poem and her dog Major.

Are there different versions of the Rainbow Bridge poem?

Yes, many. Over the decades of anonymous circulation, the poem was edited, paraphrased, and adapted by various people. The canonical version comes from Clyne-Rekhy's original manuscript. Religious variations exist (Christian, Jewish, others), as do shorter versions and rhymed versions. Pawrora's /rainbow-bridge-poem page includes the canonical text and notes on common variants.

Why does the Rainbow Bridge help people grieve?

Grief researchers cite three reasons it resonates: (1) it centers reunion rather than separation, (2) it treats animals as full moral beings deserving of an afterlife, and (3) it works both as literal belief and as metaphor, so it serves religious and secular grievers alike. Research on ritual and grief suggests that having any meaningful framework aids processing.

Who wrote the original Rainbow Bridge poem?

Edna Clyne-Rekhy wrote the original Rainbow Bridge poem in 1959 at age 19, in Inverness, Scotland, while grieving her black Labrador Major. Her authorship was confirmed by National Geographic in February 2023 after decades of anonymous circulation.

What does "crossing the Rainbow Bridge" mean?

It is a euphemism for a pet dying. The phrase comes from a 1959 prose poem that describes a beautiful meadow where pets go after death, restored to perfect health, and wait to reunite with their owner. "Crossed the Rainbow Bridge" has been standard English-language pet death vocabulary since roughly the 1990s.

Is the Rainbow Bridge in the Bible?

No. It is not from any religious scripture. The Rainbow Bridge is an original prose poem written in 1959 by Scottish teenager Edna Clyne-Rekhy. It is secular and non-denominational, which is why it has been adapted by people of many different faiths.

Is the Rainbow Bridge the same as Bifrost from Norse mythology?

No. Bifrost is a rainbow bridge in Norse mythology connecting Midgard (earth) to Asgard (home of the gods). The pet Rainbow Bridge is a 1959 original poem by Edna Clyne-Rekhy, unrelated to Norse mythology. The imagery similarity is coincidental.

Does the Rainbow Bridge apply to cats?

Yes. The original poem refers to "our special friends" and "animals," not a specific species. In contemporary usage, the Rainbow Bridge applies to any pet, including cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, birds, reptiles, and other companion animals.

What Is the Rainbow Bridge? The Origin Story, Meaning, and Full Poem

This page covers the meaning and history of the Rainbow Bridge, including the 2023 National Geographic investigation that identified the author after 64 years of anonymity. If you're looking for the full text of the poem to read at a memorial, visit the Rainbow Bridge poem page.

The Short Answer

The Rainbow Bridge is the idea that when a pet dies, they go to a beautiful meadow on the edge of heaven where they are restored to perfect health and wait until their owner dies too. At that moment, the pet runs to greet them, and they cross the bridge into the afterlife together.

It comes from a prose poem written in Scotland in 1959 by a 19-year-old named Edna Clyne-Rekhy, grieving her dog Major. The authorship was unknown for 64 years. In February 2023, National Geographic confirmed her as the author after genealogical and handwriting verification.

If you've heard "they crossed the rainbow bridge" and wondered where it came from, that's the story. What follows is the longer version and why it matters.

The Origin Story (Verified 2023)

For decades, the Rainbow Bridge poem circulated anonymously. Multiple people claimed authorship. Many versions existed. Some appeared in pet memorial pamphlets in the 1980s and 90s. None of the claimants could prove they were the original writer.

Then in February 2023, National Geographic published an investigation by journalist Steve Dale that confirmed Edna Clyne-Rekhy, an 82-year-old artist living in Scotland, as the author. The verification used:

Original handwritten manuscripts Clyne-Rekhy had kept since 1959
Typewritten versions sent to friends in the 1960s (with postmark dates)
Genealogical records placing her in Inverness at the relevant time
Handwriting analysis comparing the 1959 manuscript to her other writings from the period

Edna Clyne-Rekhy wrote the poem at age 19, in Inverness, Scotland, after the death of her black Labrador Major. She wrote it in a single evening, tucked it away, and typed copies to send to other grieving friends over the years. She never signed her name to the typed copies she shared, which is how her authorship was lost.

In interviews after the 2023 confirmation, she said she never sought to be named as the author, only that she was glad the poem had brought comfort to so many.

The Poem

The canonical version, as established by Clyne-Rekhy's original manuscript:

> 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. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly it 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....

Pawrora hosts the full poem plus variations and printables on a [dedicated page for the Rainbow Bridge poem](/rainbow-bridge-poem).

Why It Resonates

The Rainbow Bridge does a particular kind of work that other grieving texts don't quite do. Three reasons grief researchers cite:

1. It centers reunion, not separation.

Most cultural grief narratives focus on loss and acceptance. The Rainbow Bridge centers a reunion — "you cross the bridge together." For people whose primary fear about pet loss is "I will never see them again," the framing changes that directly.

2. It treats animals as full moral beings.

In many religious traditions, pets don't have an afterlife. The Rainbow Bridge quietly asserts that they do, without tying this to any specific theology. For secular grievers and religious grievers alike, it gives dignity to the animal.

3. It's non-prescriptive about belief.

The poem doesn't require you to believe it literally. Many readers hold it as metaphor ("the feeling of reunion is real, even if the bridge isn't"). Others hold it as actual cosmology. The text works at both levels, which is unusual for a spiritual text.

Usage in Pet Loss Culture

Since roughly the 1990s, "crossing the rainbow bridge" has become a standard euphemism for a pet's death in English-speaking cultures. You'll encounter it in:

Pet obituaries and memorial notices — "Max crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 3, 2024"
Veterinary communications — many clinics use it in condolence cards
Greeting cards and sympathy gifts — a full retail category
Tattoos, memorial stones, and urns — as inscribed text or imagery
Pet-loss support groups and hotlines — as shared vocabulary

Some people use it constantly. Some find it too sentimental. Both reactions are valid.

The Rainbow Bridge Across Faith Traditions

The original poem is deliberately non-denominational. Over the years, adapted versions have appeared in various religious traditions:

Christian adaptations often add explicit references to God, Jesus, or heaven. Some insert biblical allusions (Isaiah 11 on predators and prey dwelling together).

Jewish variations tend to be more restrained, reflecting Jewish tradition's generally cautious theology about the afterlife. Some pet-memorial prayers draw on the concept without the bridge imagery.

Secular versions keep the reunion framing without any theological claims. These are the most widely circulated today.

Norse parallels get cited occasionally — Bifrost, the rainbow bridge in Norse mythology, connects Midgard to Asgard. The similarity is coincidental. Bifrost is a god-bridge; Clyne-Rekhy's bridge is a pet-soul bridge. But the imagery echo is part of why the poem resonated when it did.

Other traditions with pet-afterlife concepts:

Ancient Egyptian: companion animals often interred with or near their humans, implying continuation
Hindu and Buddhist traditions: animals have souls that continue through reincarnation
Indigenous North American traditions (varying by nation): animal spirits generally recognized as continuing

The Rainbow Bridge is not claimed to be ancient. It's a 1959 Scottish teenager's personal image that happened to resonate globally.

The Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

Every August 28 is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a relatively new tradition (most sources cite its founding around 2010-2015) where pet owners honor pets who have passed. Common observances:

Lighting a candle at a memorial space
Writing a letter to the pet (see Pawrora's [rainbow bridge letter guide](/rainbow-bridge-letter))
Sharing a photo and memory on social media with the hashtag #RainbowBridgeRemembranceDay
Visiting a burial site or scattering location
Quiet time with a keepsake or urn

If you have lost a pet, even years ago, August 28 can be a gentle day to acknowledge them without it being their specific anniversary.

Common Misconceptions

"The Rainbow Bridge is from Norse mythology."

No. Bifrost is from Norse mythology. The pet Rainbow Bridge is a 1959 original poem by Edna Clyne-Rekhy. They are unrelated.

"No one knows who wrote the Rainbow Bridge poem."

Out of date. National Geographic confirmed Clyne-Rekhy as the author in February 2023.

"The Rainbow Bridge is ancient."

It's not. The poem is 66 years old (as of 2025). The cultural use as a pet-loss shorthand is mostly post-1990.

"Rainbow Bridge only applies to dogs."

The original poem says "our special friends" and "animals" — not species-specific. It applies to any pet the owner loved. Cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, ferrets, birds, reptiles, and more are all included in contemporary usage.

"Believing in the Rainbow Bridge means you're in denial about death."

Also no. Grief researchers have documented that having a meaningful framework for loss — whether religious, secular, or hybrid — aids processing, not denial. Choosing to hold the Rainbow Bridge as metaphor or as comfort is not pathological.

Practical Uses: What to Do With the Rainbow Bridge

If the concept resonates, here are ways pet owners work with it:

Reading the poem aloud. At a home memorial, at a pet's burial, or alone with their ashes. The act of reading often does more than silent reading.

Writing a letter. Many grievers write a letter to their pet, saying the things they didn't get to say. Pawrora's [rainbow bridge letter guide](/rainbow-bridge-letter) walks through how.

Incorporating into a memorial. Engraved on a stone, printed and framed, mentioned in a ceremony. Pawrora's [ceremony generator](/ceremony-generator) can help structure a home pet memorial service.

Using as a tattoo or jewelry inscription. Short excerpts work well. Popular choices: "Just this side of heaven" or "Until we meet again."

In talking to children. For kids mourning a pet, the Rainbow Bridge can be easier to discuss than abstract death concepts. Pair with age-appropriate honesty — Pawrora's [helping kids cope with pet loss](/helping-kids-cope-with-pet-loss) cluster has guidance.

If You Don't Connect With It

Plenty of grievers do not find the Rainbow Bridge comforting. Reasons vary — too sentimental for some, too specific a vision for others, theologically uncomfortable for others. None of that is wrong.

There are other frameworks that help:

Pawrora's [stages of pet loss grief guide](/coping/stages-of-pet-loss-grief) walks through what grief researchers actually say about what you're feeling
The [coping hub](/coping) has breed-specific support
[Making a digital star memorial](/sky) is a different ritual entirely — no afterlife imagery required

The Rainbow Bridge is one tool. If it helps, keep it. If not, there are others.

Make a memorial in their name

Pawrora's free digital star memorial lets you place your pet among the stars, write a tribute, and share it with family. No cost, no account required to start.

Start a star memorial

FAQs About the Rainbow Bridge

What do you say when someone's pet has crossed the Rainbow Bridge?: Say the pet's name. "I'm so sorry about [pet name]. They were clearly loved." Ask about a memory. Avoid "at least they had a good life" or "you can always get another." Pawrora's guide on supporting someone who lost a pet at /how-to-support-someone-who-lost-a-pet goes into more detail.
Is the Rainbow Bridge copyrighted?: The question is nuanced. Edna Clyne-Rekhy was confirmed as the author in 2023 but has not asserted restrictive copyright. In interviews she has said she is glad the poem brings comfort and does not want to change that. The poem has circulated freely for over 60 years and is generally treated as functionally public domain, though formal copyright status remains her rights as the confirmed author.
Was Edna Clyne-Rekhy still alive when her authorship was confirmed?: Yes. She was 82 years old at the time of the February 2023 National Geographic confirmation, living in Scotland. She gave interviews about the poem and her dog Major.
Are there different versions of the Rainbow Bridge poem?: Yes, many. Over the decades of anonymous circulation, the poem was edited, paraphrased, and adapted by various people. The canonical version comes from Clyne-Rekhy's original manuscript. Religious variations exist (Christian, Jewish, others), as do shorter versions and rhymed versions. Pawrora's /rainbow-bridge-poem page includes the canonical text and notes on common variants.
Why does the Rainbow Bridge help people grieve?: Grief researchers cite three reasons it resonates: (1) it centers reunion rather than separation, (2) it treats animals as full moral beings deserving of an afterlife, and (3) it works both as literal belief and as metaphor, so it serves religious and secular grievers alike. Research on ritual and grief suggests that having any meaningful framework aids processing.
Who wrote the original Rainbow Bridge poem?: Edna Clyne-Rekhy wrote the original Rainbow Bridge poem in 1959 at age 19, in Inverness, Scotland, while grieving her black Labrador Major. Her authorship was confirmed by National Geographic in February 2023 after decades of anonymous circulation.
What does "crossing the Rainbow Bridge" mean?: It is a euphemism for a pet dying. The phrase comes from a 1959 prose poem that describes a beautiful meadow where pets go after death, restored to perfect health, and wait to reunite with their owner. "Crossed the Rainbow Bridge" has been standard English-language pet death vocabulary since roughly the 1990s.
Is the Rainbow Bridge in the Bible?: No. It is not from any religious scripture. The Rainbow Bridge is an original prose poem written in 1959 by Scottish teenager Edna Clyne-Rekhy. It is secular and non-denominational, which is why it has been adapted by people of many different faiths.
Is the Rainbow Bridge the same as Bifrost from Norse mythology?: No. Bifrost is a rainbow bridge in Norse mythology connecting Midgard (earth) to Asgard (home of the gods). The pet Rainbow Bridge is a 1959 original poem by Edna Clyne-Rekhy, unrelated to Norse mythology. The imagery similarity is coincidental.
Does the Rainbow Bridge apply to cats?: Yes. The original poem refers to "our special friends" and "animals," not a specific species. In contemporary usage, the Rainbow Bridge applies to any pet, including cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, birds, reptiles, and other companion animals.

Related on Pawrora

Full text of the Rainbow Bridge poem — canonical version and variants
Write a Rainbow Bridge letter to your pet — a structured guide to a grieving ritual many find helpful
The stages of pet loss grief — research-grounded guide to what you're feeling
Pet memorial ceremony generator — structure a home memorial service incorporating the Rainbow Bridge
Helping kids cope with pet loss — using the Rainbow Bridge with children, age-appropriately

Reviewed by the Pawrora editorial team

Last updated: April 1, 2026

Primary sources:

Dale, S. (2023, February). National Geographic investigation confirming Edna Clyne-Rekhy as the author of the Rainbow Bridge poem.
Clyne-Rekhy, E. (1959). Original handwritten manuscript of "The Rainbow Bridge," Inverness, Scotland.
Interviews with Edna Clyne-Rekhy, 2023, following the authorship confirmation.