Quote of Today
看到彩虹橋這三個字你想到了什麼？
雨後、晴空、彩虹、晚霞、聖經故事......也許還有很多。
但如果你有寵物或曾經養過寵物或熱愛小動物，彩虹橋是一個充滿了憂傷和快樂的地方。
1980-1990年代，美國俄勒岡的一個grief counselor（直譯為「悲傷治療師」）Paul C. Dahm寫了一首散文詩，詩中講了一個彩虹橋的故事（全詩貼在文章末尾），故事大意如下：
在天堂(heaven)和人世之間有一座彩虹橋連接兩端。彩虹橋的人間這頭是一片無邊無際的草地(meadow).
每一隻寵物死後就會來到這片草地，在這裡它身體的一切傷痛都會被治癒，身心都修復到最健康的狀態。
這裡無憂無慮，寵物在草地上盡情地奔跑玩耍，有無盡的食物和水，陽光總在照耀，從無陰雨和黑夜。但寵物的心中只有一個遺憾——日夜思念它的主人。
很多年後，寵物的主人也死了，他/她也會來到彩虹橋下的這片草地。寵物老遠就聞到了主人熟悉的味道，它停下一切，發瘋地朝主人跑來。主人和寵物終於又重逢了。他們一起走過彩虹橋，進入天堂，永遠不再分開。
這就是 rainbow bridge的故事。每一隻寵物，即便死了，也會在橋頭久久地等待自己的主人。直到主人來了，才會與主人一起去天堂。
關於彩虹橋詩的原作者和版本問題一直存在爭議，但我不想過多糾結這一點。
我猜想最早寫下這首散文詩的一定是一位心中充滿了愛的人，看到那麼多失去了寵物的人走不出悲傷，就創造了這樣一個美好的草地、彩虹橋和天堂的願景來撫慰他們。讓他們知道他們的寵物永遠不會離他們而去。
一個美好的故事，留給了世界，這就足夠了。
*寵物彩虹橋（pet rainbow bridge）的概念最早出現於挪威神話故事中（the Bifr st bridge of Norse Mythology), The Bifrost bridge was said to be a burning rainbow bridge that reaches between Midgard (Earth) and Asgard, the realm of the gods.
對挪威神話有興趣的讀者可參閱這本書：
這就是寵物彩虹橋的故事。
如果你有寵物，希望你珍惜和它在一起的時間。
如果你的寵物先走了，不要悲傷，它在彩虹橋等你。
如果你沒有養寵物，也請善待每個小動物。
它們不會說我們的語言，但它們也有靈魂，也（更）懂得愛。
附：英語中最早的Rainbow Bridge Poem, by Paul C. Dahm
「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. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he 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….」
相關舊文
*Cover picture courtesy:Hannah Robinson Illustrations
感謝你的閱讀，明天見。