The Puppyhurst Doggo News – Where It Always Reigns Cats and Dogs
In her interview for the Puppyhurst Doggo News, our rover reporter, Ceiba Bunny, discovered that her foster kitten sibling is like the Pangur Bán of old. Only his name is Arnie, age 3 months. Pangur means “fuller” and bán means “white” in ancient Irish Gaelic. It’s a poem by an Irish monk copying holy text with the companionship of his buddy, a white cat. Arnie does the same for his current buddy, Ceiba’s human who is not a monk but lives a kind of monkish existence translating Japanese to English in his office. Arnie helps his foster human by chasing toys, instead of mice, and walks across the computer keyboard in the way of the historic cat.
There is no doubt that, when Arnie goes to his furever home, his foster human will miss him. They both even have the same color Irish green eyes! Arnie however, really needs a home a little less quiet. He loves to chase and explore like his ancestors, but also loves a good snuggle when he’s tired. He’s the perfect package of sweetness, intelligence, prowess, and exploration. Although his foster humans know that Motley Zoo Animal Rescue will make sure he gets the purrrfect home.
When asked if Arnie were aware of his ancient scholar ancestor, Pangur Bán, Arnie purred, “Of course! Cats are very educated! But no time for reading. I’ve got to go see what’s over there!”
*The Management of The Puppyhurst Doggo News can refer humans interested in this kitten to fill out an application at Motley Zoo Animal Rescue. https://www.motleyzooanimalrescue.org/ even if a picture is not yet up on the site. The Management also has zero say in the placement of foster animals.*
𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐚́𝐧
By Anonymous
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑆𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑦𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑡ℎ-𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑦 𝐼𝑟𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑝𝑜𝑒𝑚
Pangur Bán and I at work,
Adepts, equals, cat and clerk:
His whole instinct is to hunt,
Mine to free the meaning pent.
More than loud acclaim, I love
Books, silence, thought, my alcove.
Happy for me, Pangur Bán
Child-plays round some mouse’s den.
Truth to tell, just being here,
Housed alone, housed together,
Adds up to its own reward:
Concentration, stealthy art.
Next thing an unwary mouse
Bares his flank: Pangur pounces.
Next thing lines that held and held
Meaning back begin to yield.
All the while, his round bright eye
Fixes on the wall, while I
Focus my less piercing gaze
On the challenge of the page.
With his unsheathed, perfect nails
Pangur springs, exults and kills.
When the longed-for, difficult
Answers come, I too exult.
So it goes. To each his own.
No vying. No vexation.
Taking pleasure, taking pains,
Kindred spirits, veterans.
Day and night, soft purr, soft pad,
Pangur Bán has learned his trade.
Day and night, my own hard work
Solves the cruxes, makes a mark.
