Heaven
By Tasha Langley

Welcome home, friend. You have finally made it here... We have
waited upon
you for many years. Here, you will never be alone again... You will
never cry
again. You will never hurt, or be ill. No bad will come upon you
ever more.
No need to fear anymore... There is no death or dying, no grieving.
This is a
place where every gate is made of pearl. The streets are of every
jewel
that you could ever think of, and some you never knew existed. Jade,
Amethyst, Sapphire, and Diamond, Ruby, Emerald and Citrus... These
all make
up the streets of this wondrous place. The buildings of this place
are taller
than the tallest earthly building, bigger than the largest mansion,
stronger
than the strongest of them all. Inside, there are giant pillars made
of solid
marble, many of them, and hundreds of rooms. Everyone gets a home to
live
in. Now, walk down to the Rainbow Bridge. There are some old
friends down
there that you have missed that are waiting to see you. How about
that old
dog you played with the tennis ball all the time when you were a
kid? He's
there. Right there, and with that same tennis ball. What about the
horse
you rode on and your dreams rode on? He's there, ready to be ridden,
and
stronger than he has ever been. What about the bird whose spirit
flew away
when you where young and he was your best friend? These will all be
there,
at the Rainbow Bridge. You'll see it... It will be that small bridge
over there.
Over the stream. With the large, bright rainbow over it, with every
color in
it you've ever imagined. Your friends will see you while they are
playing with
they're friends. They will look up and see you, and come running to
you. It
will be the most joyous reunion ever. You will always remain
together now...
Never to be parted. Now, just look around you. This place is
bigger, more lush,
more wonderful than anything you've ever experienced. The rainbows
in the
sky, the thunder, the magical colors. This is no dream... This IS
your home
and will be forever. Now, go find a powerful steed. The most
powerful
horse you can find--A stallion that paws the earth with his wild
hooves.
When he snorts, it sounds like thunder. A horse so wild, he rears up
to his
greatest height and paws the air. His shrill whistle can be heard
around the
Heavens. The whites show in his eyes; his tail held high in the
fashion that
only the proudest horses hold they're tails. He stands along the
beach... His
mane waving gently in the wind. It falls down his neck, and past his
shoulders. It's the smoothest, silkiest mane you've ever felt. His
tail is so
long, it drags the ground. Now, this horse just stands there,
looking out
upon the vast, open sea, quietly, no sound from him now. As you get
closer to
this beach, you will realize. This is the sea you have now thrown all
your
worries away in. All your fears, pains, grieving... All drowned in
this sea.
Walk up to the horse. He will turn and look you in the eye. Touch
his face.
Then get aboard him. You're free now. And now you will see just how
free
you are. Tell him the word. And he will go. Tearing across the
sand. No
bridle, no reins, no saddle. His giant hooves pounding the ground;
his legs
steady and confident. He gallops along this sunset beach. You feel
the wind
in your face. The horse nearly flies. His feet hardly touch the
earth. His
mane, flowing behind him, like a large silken scarf that whips in the
wind. He
holds his head proud and true. He's travelling along this endless
sea. You're
leaving your problems, your worries behind you. For the final time.
Break
loose, into the open space. The horse is nearly flying, amongst the
stars.
Amongst the starlit sky he will fly; His tail streaming behind him.
He never
tires. Now turn. Turn to the velvet fields; With grass higher than
your
stallions knees... Let him keep flying, pounding the ground with
hooves that
barely touch it. He's still nearly flying. Over the endless hills
he will go.
Fields, and fields, non-stop, to run through. Run, fly amongst the
birds. Run
among the greats of the past that raced far beyond any horse could
ever
run. Fly into the wild herds... Run, run, fly with the eagles. Fly
through a
rainbow. Splash through a lake. Keep your speed. Underneath you the
horse's legs are moving so fast, they are a blur. This wild,
unbridled
creature, taking you on your journey. Go through the mountains...
Across the
lakes. Fly through the waterfalls. Until... You come across a
stream. Not
too large, not too small. Stop the horse. You will see there are
many
creatures here, drinking from this stream. And right about halfway
up the
stream, is a giant tree. It bears all kinds of fruit. It is the
tree of life.
Everlasting... Life. Let your horse quench his thirst here at this
stream.
Now take your horse, and keep running, keep flying. You will see a
walkway
suddenly appear. Pure gold, made of solid gold. Take the horse
here. But
don't run. Walk slowly. Take in your surroundings. The most
beautiful
you've ever seen. In the distance, you see a bright light, and
lightning and
thunder surround it. Keep in that direction. The place is so
beautiful you
can hardly take anymore. It's overwhelming. You're here. You're
friends,
your family are away. Do not grieve. For they will be with you very
soon.
Soon we will all be together, never again to be parted. As you near
this
bright light, you will begin to notice the silence of everything
around you,
except for the thunder. Finally, you reach the light. It's
blinding. Stay on
the horse, and walk right up to it. You will not be able to see
anything. You
have come to the end of your journey. This is it; And then
suddenly... From
the blinding light, it comes. The light that lights the entire
Heavens. From
the beach. To the velvet fields. To the mansions, and the
mountains. From
the gates to the gardens. From the Tree of Life, to the Sea Of
Forgetfullness. From that light, you hear two simple, incredible
words...
"Welcome Home".

Editor's Note--This poem is dedicated to the memory of Chris Antley--the author's favorite jockey.