From: scarr@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Subject: Musical setting of Pangur Ban
Organization: Memorial University. St.John's Nfld, Canada
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 16:31:32 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.123815.4146@memstvx1.memst.edu>, nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu writes:
> In article <1992Nov16.171017.20198@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, daj8m@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Deirdre A. Johnson) writes:
>> Hi, everyone!  I hope my header isn't confusing - The thread about
>> black kitten names made me remember a poem by Yeats, which I thought
>> you might enjoy if you don't already know it.  And I thought while
>> I was at it, I'd post another Irish poem, written by a monk in the 
>> ninth century, in the margin of the manuscript he was "really" writing,
>> as a tribute to his cat.  I got the second poem out of a book my sister
>> gave me for my birthday, and, since it makes a great present for 
>> cat-lovers, I thought I'd tell you how to get hold of it at the end 
>> of my post.  So, here goes (hope this isn't too long)
>> 
>>                   The Cat and the Moon
>> 
>>           The cat went here and there
>>           And the moon spun round like a top,
>>           And the nearest kin of the moon, 
>>           The creeping cat looked up.
>>           Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
>>           For, wonder and wail as he would,
>>           The pure cold light in the sky
>>           Troubled his animal blood.
>>           Minnaloushe runs in the grass
>>           Lifting his delicate feet.
>>           Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?
>>           When two close kindred meet,
>>           What better than call a dance?
>>           Maybe the moon may learn,
>>           Tired of that courtly fashion,
>>           A new dance turn.
>>           Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
>>           From moonlit place to place,
>>           The sacred moon overhead
>>           Has taken a new phase.
>>           Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils
>>           Will pass from change to change,
>>           And that from round to crescent,
>>           From crescent to round they range?
>>           Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
>>           Alone, important and wise,
>>           And lifts to the changing moon
>>           His changing eyes.
>>                               -W. B. Yeats
>> 
>>                Pangur Bawn
>> 
>>           Me and Pangur Bawn my cat
>>           Each has his aspiration;
>>           Pangur's mind is set on mice
>>           And mine on education.
>> 
>>           More than any fame I love
>>           My books, pursuing learning;
>>           Nor does my friend envy me-
>>           Mice are Pangur's yearning.
>> 
>>           In our cell and all alone,
>>           Both of us have endless fun;
>>           Nobody is ever bored,
>>           Skillfully the work gets done.
>> 
>>           Often, with a furious pounce,
>>           In his net he snares a mouse;
>>           I, too, net, with mind intent
>>           Philosophic argument.
>> 
>>           Eagerly he'll watch the wall,
>>           His beady bright eye burning;
>>           I fix mine, weak as it is,
>>           On the light of learning.
>> 
>>           Joyfully he'll dash about,
>>           A mouse caught in his sure claws;
>>           I am every bit as pleased,
>>           Skewering obscure laws.
>> 
>>           Happily we spend long hours,
>>           Pangur Bawn, my cat and I;
>>           Each of us loves what he does,
>>           Peacefully time passes by.
>> 
>>           The work Pangur does each day,
>>           For a cat is fit and right;
>>           So it goes with my work too,
>>           Bringing darkness up to light.
>> 
>>                                     -Anon., 9th century
>>                        Translated from the Old Irish by Malachi McCormick
>> 
>> This poem is in "Other Cats", a small (3" by 4.5") handmade boxed set of
>> cat poems and stories from all over the world, put out by the Stone Street
>> Press.  Their address is: The Stone Street Press, 1 Stone St., S.1.,
>>                           N.Y. 10304  USA
>>                           Telephone: (212) 447-1436.
>> 
>> -That's it for this post.  I hope you enjoyed the poems!
> 
> VERY MUCH!  THANK YOU FOR POSTING!
> Nancy 
> 
>> 
>>                                 -Deirdre at Virginia (daj8m@virginia.edu)

Anyone who enjoys the poem about Pangur Ban should look for a musical 
setting of the same, by Samuel Barber (of "Adagio for String" / 'Platoon' 
fame), entitled, "Songs from Hermitage". There's a delightful older 
recording with Barber accompanying Leontyne Price on the piano., issued on
Columbia.

Steve (on behalf of Jennet Jourdemayne and Cat Morgan)