I and Pangur Bán 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.
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.
Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.
~
Author Unknown (was an 8th Century Irish monk). It is the earliest written Gaelic poem that has survived. It was translated by Robin Flower. I saw it when I went to see the Book of Kells in Dublin & really liked it =)
Whether it was staged or not, I still like this video clip.
I also went to a stand-up comedy show tonight, which was awesome. The part that sticks in my mind? When Adam Hills (very funny guy) was talking about how in his last DVD he mentioned only two celebrities at length: Steve Irwin & James Brown. Within 3 months or so of the DVD being released, they were both dead. He said that it would happen whenever he mentions a celebrity on stage now. He pauses & then shouts out “PARIS HILTON!”
Okay, I don’t wish death on anyone, but it was funny all the same.