Caturday Poetry: 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 task 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 task 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.
~Anonymous 9th century Irish monk

Neither Scaramouche nor Tamerlane are particularly strong against mice, but my old kitty Miriah is very very strong against all small rodents.  But she is old and grey and full of sleep, so now she just dreams of killing mice.