その子たちの中には、様子の違う子もいます
誰からも愛されることのなかった子達です
仲間達が一匹、また一匹と、それぞれの特別な人と再会し、
橋を渡って行くのを、うらやましそうに見つめているのです

この子達には、待つべき特別な人はいません
地上にいる間にそんな人とめぐり会わなかったのです

でもある日彼らが遊んでいると、橋へと続く道の傍らに
誰かが立っているのに気づきます
その人も他の人たちの再会をうらやましげに見つめているのです
生きている間、彼は愛すべきどうぶつと暮らした事がありませんでした
誰かを愛することも、誰かから愛される事もなかったのです

どうして彼はひとりぼっちなんだろうと不思議に思いながら、
ポツンとたたずむ彼に、愛された事のない子が近づいていきました
愛されたことのない子と愛されたことのない人が近づいた時、
ふたりは光に包まれ、奇跡が起こるのです

ふたりは、地上では巡り逢うことのできなかった、
出合うべき、特別なともだちだったのです
この虹の橋のたもとでふたつの魂はようやく出会い、
愛情と喜びに満ちた、大切なともだちとして巡り逢えたのです
彼らはともに虹の橋を渡り、もう二度と離れることはないのです

Author Unknown
訳：二本松昭宏

AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth.
It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors.
Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge,
there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place.
There is always food and water and warm Spring weather.
Those old and frail animals are young again.
Those who have been maimed are made whole again.
They play all day with each other.
Some of them here by the Bridge are different.
These pets were beaten, starved, tortured, and unloved.
They watch wistfully as their friends leave one by one,
to cross the bridge with their special person.
For them there is no one, no special one.
Their time on earth did not give them one.
But one day, as they run and play,
they notice someone standing by the road to the bridge.
This person wistfully watches the reunions of friends,
for during life, this person had no pet.
This person was beaten, starved, tortured, and unloved.
Standing there alone, one of the unloved pets approaches,
curious as to why this one is alone.
And as the unloved pet and the unloved person get nearer to each other,
a miracle occurs,
for these are the ones who were meant to be together,
the special person and the beloved pet
who never had the chance to meet while on Earth.
Finally, now, at the edge of the Rainbow Bridge,
their souls meet, the pain and the sorrow disappears,
and two friends are together.
They cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.