For Those With Special friends At Rainbow Bridge.

[eileenjones]

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
AT RAINBOW BRIDGE

T'was the night before Christmas, at Rainbow Bridge too.
We Bridge kids were thinking as always of you.
We'd seen how the holidays weren't bright this year,
Heard you whisper so often, "I wish you were here!"

We know how you wish you could just stay in bed
And sleep through the holiday lying ahead,
When all celebrate with their loved ones so near...
Unless they have loved ones on this side this year.

But we're no less alive here, on the other side.
If you could just see us, you would've laughed and not cried.
The dogs all in harness, pulling the sleigh.
The cats all in Santa hats pointing the way.

The pet birds all flying back over the rainbow,
Bound homeward in spite of Earth's darkness and snow.
All the pets that you've lost, pets for whom you've cried,
Flying home on this Christmas to be by your side.

If you feel warm fur brush you when no pet's around,
Hear a soft bark or purr, just a ghost of a sound,
We're trying to tell you we're visiting this way,
And our visits, even rainbows, can be on any day.

But for Christmas we have something special to do,
A sleigh full of happy dream visits for you.
On doggy, on kitty, on winged friend and ferret!
The love that you lavished, we mean now to share it!

We're fetching that love home, the way we once played,
With the closeness we shared and the memories we made.
Our Earth lives with you were too short for us, too,
And on this Christmas Eve we have so much to do.

So all through this night as you sleep in your beds,
Sweet visions of fur babies dance in your heads.
This one special night we can bring you Home for a while,
Your true home in Heaven, where again you will smile.

Over the rainbow you'll fly, for a short while this night,
Hours that you'll be happy, hours that will feel right,
Hours to cuddle and hug us, to run and to play,
Before the return to Earth in our magic way.

And when you awaken and face Christmas Day,
We pray you'll remember your trip on our sleigh,
But in case you forget, just remember our love.
Remember us watching you, your angels above.

Sending love wrapped in rainbows, shining and bright,
Love that will guide you through the darkest night,
Love found in each memory unwrapped through the year,
Replacing dark sorrows with Christmas cheer.

Leave the toys to St. Nick, we Bridge kids bring dreams,
Sweet visits to remind you all is not as it seems
When you look all around you with tired Earthly eyes.
If you saw as we do, there'd be joy and surprise.

There are fur angels waiting by those Christmas trees,
Always there for you and hearing your pleas.
We're never more than a thought away from your home,
You're never forgotten, you're never alone.

Nor are we alone here, with our Rainbow Bridge friends.
We know only joy here, the celebrating never ends,
And after our reunions with you Christmas Eve,
We Bridge kids will party like you'd never believe.

But we'll slip away often to be by your side.
Sitting there watching you, eyes open wide,
Praying you'll be able to catch a glimpse of us, too.
But whether or not you see us - Merry Christmas to you!

- Cindy Morgan (2007)

(poem is not mine, but the photo is a DC&H original)

[saxylouise]

Tears running down my face :-(.. I lost one of my favourite animals the other day and I always think about my lost babies at Christmas.

[karent]

Saw this on fb and as you can imagine it made me bleet xx

[nellienoonoo]

Gosh that really set me off

To my beautiful Rosie, Button the bunny and Little One, the feral so young, who never knew the warmth of a human lap and cosy place to call home . . . . . I miss you all and you are always in my heart now and everyday

[redgypsy]

Tears here too, the pain never leaves us,and neither do our happy memories,thank goodness

Glenice.

[florence]

Thank you that was beautiful, even though it made me cry, god bless you all x

[gwenyn]

set me off I have to focus on all the wonderful memories I have of my very dear pets My life has been enriched because of them but I sooo miss them x

[luci]

Thought I'd share this with everyone, its a poem I wrote when I lost my Lurcher, a Battersea dog who went on to Rainbow bridge in 1998. He was the first dog I had as an adult and I'll never forget him....


Close your eyes now, old friend,
The time has come to say fair well,
Dream some more of chasing rabbits in a field somewhere you've never been,
Forage through before forbidden dustbins,
Now your sure to find some tasty things.

You'll see me there old friend,
With a stick or a ball,
Ready to play and run for all eternity,

Charlie to, your ever willing student,
Lost now without his teacher.

So close your eyes now old friend and rest a while,
Your going on a journey...
to a place were you can sleep in the sun,
All day if you want to,

Be patient, old friend of mine,
One day I'll see you there.
Don't worry,
I'll know you by your old grey muzzle,
You'll know me,
I'll have your collar.

Charlie was my second dog, a lab masstive mix that was found in a box in a very quiet corner of the park in February, it was freezing, with 4 other puppies.... all dead but him. Ben, my Lurcher found the box, he saved him and taught him everything he knew and they were great friends. Together again now.... I think of them so often, even after all this time.... xxx

[maryegiles]

Both beautiful poems! Mary x