Have You Seen This One?

THIS WEEK IT’S A POEM

For lovers of writing, of poetry, of study, and of cats, here is a poem by a student at the monastery of Carinthia in the 8th century.


Pangur Ban

I and Pangur Ban, my cat, 
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen; 
Pangur bears me no ill-will, 
He too plies his simple skill. 

'Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we, 
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind. 

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way; 
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net. 

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly; 
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try. 

When a mouse darts from its den. 
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply, 
Pangur Ban, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss. 
I have mine and he has his. 

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade; 
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light. 

Translated from the Gaelic by Robin Flower