The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

March 21, 2019

March 21, 2019

It is World Poetry Day, and our obvious topic then, is "Pangur Ban." An excerpt:

'Pangur, white Pangur, How happy we are
Alone together, scholar and cat
Each has his own work to do daily;
For you it is hunting, for me study. '

This is from Auden's translation.

The poem was unknown for almost a millenium. Then in the middle of the 19th century, it was retrieved from a German archive. And we are richer.

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