The Rainbow Bridge is a mythical meeting place in the Afterworld of pets and their owners, which is often mentioned among pet lovers of the USA, Great Britain [1] [2] [3] and other countries. The legend is partially based on the mythological view of the “rainbow bridge” between earth and sky (in particular, the Bivrist bridge in Scandinavian mythology) [1] .
Authorship and history
Despite the fame of history throughout the world, its author is unknown. The Internet resource About.com names several individuals who initiated this story: [4]
- Paul C. Dahm, US psychologist, who wrote a poem in 1981 and published a book with the same name in 1998. [five]
- William N. Britton, author of The Legend of Rainbow Bridge. [6]
- Dr. Wallace Sife, head of the Association of People, Lost Pets, whose poem All Pets Go to Heaven was published on the Association's website and in The Loss of a Pet. [7]
The first mention of the Bridge of the Rainbow on the Internet is considered to be the message in the news group [8] , dated January 7, 1993, citing an excerpt from the newsletter Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League Newsletter (1992).
In Russian culture, the Rainbow Bridge is best known for the translation of Irina Petrakova:
At the very edge of the sky there is a place called the Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies, especially if it was very loved by someone in this life, it falls on the Rainbow Bridge. There are endless meadows and hills where our friends can run and play all together. There is an abundance of food, water and sunlight, and our pets are warm and comfortable there.
In this land, all sick and old animals turn into young and full of energy; those who had injuries and injuries become healthy and strong again. Time flies for them, if only we remember them in our dreams and dreams. The animals there are happy and satisfied with all but one - each of them left earlier and left someone very dear to him in this life.
On the Rainbow Bridge, the animals run and play carelessly all together, but a day comes when one of them suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His eyes light up with fire, and his body begins to tremble with impatience. Suddenly he leaves his fellows, flies over emerald green grass, and his legs carry him faster and faster.
He noticed you; and when you and your darling finally meet, you hug tight, happy to be united and never part.
He will licked your face, stupefying with happiness, your hand will lovingly caress his head again, and you will once again look into the faithful eyes of your pet, who has left your life for a long time, but has never left your heart.
Now you can cross the Rainbow Bridge together ...
Russian pet lovers authorship of the poem is often attributed to Paul C. Damu [9] .
In addition, another, not less touching story about the life of animals on the Rainbow Bridge is spread on the Internet:
This day on the Rainbow Bridge was unlike other days. He was gray, joyless and oppressive.
Animals that were not so long on the bridge could not understand what was going on. But the old-timers were clear. They gathered at the edge of the Bridge and began to look.
Soon everyone saw the old dog, which was approaching the Bridge with its head down and a drooping tail. The animals that had long been on the Rainbow Bridge already knew in advance what had happened to this dog - they too often saw similar situations.
The dog approached slowly, apparently experiencing a strong emotional pain, although it had no signs of injury or illness. For some reason, she did not become, like other animals, happy and healthy again. The dog was approaching, thinking that now it would cross the cherished line, and the closer it came, the happier it became.
But then the angel blocked the way to the dog, who apologized and said that animals without being escorted by people cannot cross the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog had nowhere else to go, and she entered the field in front of the Bridge, where there were the same animals as the old animals that came to the Bridge without a human friend. They lay on the green grass, staring intently at the path that led to the Bridge. A new dog lay down with them, also looking at the Bridge and waiting for something.
One of the newbies of Most asked a dog who had lived there for a long time:
- Who is this dog and why does he not become healthy and young, like us?
“You see,” the old-timer replied, “this dog was put into an orphanage when he grew old, like you see, with an old dog with graying hair and eyes covered with a film of old age.” At his last moment, only an employee of the shelter could give him his love, calm him down and caress him. Since he had no family, no one can transfer him across the bridge.
- And what will happen to him now? - asked the newcomer.
While he was waiting for an answer, everyone saw how the clouds had dispersed, and a man approached the bridge. All the animals that were waiting for something on the field near the Bridge were flooded with golden light, and immediately became young and healthy again. Many more animals ran up to the Bridge, seeing the newcomer. They bowed low to him, and he stroked their heads and scratched them behind their ears. Together they went to the Bridge and crossed it.
- Who is it? - asked the newcomer.
- This person is an employee of a shelter. The animals that bowed to him found a new home thanks to him. They will cross the Bridge when their masters are here. And those who crossed the Bridge with him, never had a home. When a shelter employee comes here, he is allowed to show his love for animals for the last time. He translates through the Bridge all the poor, useless beasts.
- I love these people! Said the novice.
- And God, too! - was the answer.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 How much can you mind a pet? , BBC News Magazine, 01/13/2010.
- Y ver y Ch Sou for, Ch Ch Ch Ch Lo Lo Lo Lo Lo Lo:::::::::: y chers chers chers chers, He He He chers chers chers chers chers chers chers chers, ale Health, Health Communications Inc., 1998, ISBN 978-1558745711
- ↑ Planet Cat: A CAT-alog by Sandra Choron, Harry Choron, Arden Moore, p. 389.
- ↑ Quest for The Rainbow Bridge. The About.com Guide.
- ↑ Paul C. Dahm, The Rainbow Bridge , Running Tide Press, April 1998, 151 pp., ISBN 978-0966302202 .
- ↑ William N. Britton, The Legend of Rainbow Bridge , Savannah Publishing, 1994, ISBN 0964501805 .
- Lace Wallace Sife, The Loss of a Pet , Howell Book House, Revised Edition, 2005, ISBN 9780764579301 .
- ↑ Post in rec.pets.dogs, 1/7/1993.
- ↑ Wolf Spitz. Gone for the rainbow. Keeshond