'Turning Darkness into Light'

Today I visited The Book of Kells exhibit at Trinity College Library, Dublin.  It is well worth the crowds.  Yesterday, I visited the Chester Beatty Library - another fascinating and unique collection of rare books and manuscripts located in Dublin.  I must say that just like my earlier visit to Italy in 2002-2003, my visit to Ireland has really been exciting.  There is a great spirit in Dublin and people are friendly in a way that is really rare.

The Book of Kells exhibit has a poem on display that really captivated me.  It's been a long time since I've had a moment to take in some poetry, but this was well worth it:

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 to 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

(Written by a ninth-century Irish monk in St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Comments

[Blueguy]

Hi Alex,

Sorry. I threw it away. Check out the Trinity College Library website - you might find it there.

Sorry I forgot to leave you my e-mail...ale_dente@hotmail.com
Thanks Alex

Hi I'm Alex, from Italy. Ihave been in Trinity College too and I liked so much The Book of Kells ehxibit. I would to ask you something...It's a long time I thought to make a tatoo...but I never found the right sentence...I was captived the sentence..."Turning darkness into light" that could rapresent my life now....after a very bad time I would found light...so I'm searching on web the scanned immage of the poem. If you have the brochures of exhibit you can found a piece of that original page. Could you help me? I'll be very happy. I thanks you very much. Bye Alex