From: nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: 1 Black cat name, 2 Irish poems & a book recommendation
Date: 19 Nov 92 12:38:15 -0600
Organization: Memphis State University

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)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats