Post Fest- Pangur Ban

The PA Gourd Fest was last weekend and I needed a few days to recover!  It was a great time and I always enjoy spending time with other gourd enthusiasts.  The four classes I taught were full and so much fun.  It was delightful to reconnect with gourd friends I have not seen since last year, and meet new ones!
I entered two gourds in the competition, and intentionally kept them a secret until afterwards.  Let me tell you about the first one, Pangur Ban.

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This is Pangur Ban, The Monk's Cat.  This gourd actually won Best of Show!  I have done a gourd on this theme many years ago, and it still is an idea that I get excited about.  There is a poem written by a medieval monk in the margins of his grammar book (I guess he got bored with his grammar haha!) about his cat, Pangur Ban.  It is about how he and his cat go about their appointed work, the monk with his words and the cat hunting mice.  I imagine that the monk was also a scribe, surrounded by piles of parchment and books in various stages of completion, and his cat prowling and keeping an eye out for any mice that may come to nibble at his master's work.  

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Here is a closer look at the three sides.  The first being Pangur, perched atop the open book (and the detail of the book is a bit of the poem in Irish Gaelic.  Look closely and you will see a little mouse peeking over the border at the top.  This is all done with pyrography, and a touch of gold leaf.

This next side is of the little mouse, safe at the moment.  I decided to make use of a Celtic spiral design for his backdrop. 

The third side is Pangur again, taking a little rest atop a closed book.  My own cat was the model for both sides, although I changed the coloring because Pangur is technically supposed to be white.  

Here is the original poem, and translation following:

Messe ocus Pangur Bán,
cechtar nathar fria saindán;
bíth a menma-sam fri seilgg,
mu menma céin im saincheirdd

Caraim-se fos, ferr cach clú,
oc mu lebrán léir ingnu;
ní foirmtech frimm Pangur bán,
caraid cesin a maccdán.

Ó ru·biam — scél cen scís --
innar tegdais ar n-óendís,
táithiunn — díchríchide clius --
ní fris tarddam ar n-áthius.

Gnáth-húaraib ar gressaib gal
glenaid luch inna lín-sam;
os mé, du·fuit im lín chéin
dliged n-doraid cu n-dronchéill.

Fúachid-sem fri frega fál
a rosc anglése comlán;
fúachimm chéin fri fégi fis
mu rosc réil, cesu imdis,

Fáelid-sem cu n-déne dul
hi·n-glen luch inna gérchrub;
hi·tucu cheist n-doraid n-dil,
os mé chene am fáelid.

Cía beimmi amin nach ré,
ní·derban cách ar chéle.
Maith la cechtar nár a dán,
subaigthius a óenurán.

Hé fesin as choimsid dáu
in muid du·n-gní cach óenláu;
du thabairt doraid du glé
for mu mud céin am messe.

Translation: Robin Flower 1912 The Poem Book of the Gael
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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.
'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.

You may also like this little clip from The Secret of Kells, a beautiful animation by Tomm Moore.  If you at all love the history of illuminated manuscripts, and love animation, this one will knock your socks off.  One of my all time favorites!

Ok, I have another gourd to share with you, but I will do this in another post since this one got so very long!
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