DESCRIPTION:
The poet Carmen Bernos de Gasztold (Born 1919) wrote "Prayers from the Ark" a collect of 27 prayers each from one of the animals on Noah's Ark. The work was origianlly privately published by the Benedictine Abbeye Saint Louis de Temple. English translation was written by Rumer Godden (19071998) who went to the Benedictine Abbey in France and spent time with the poet to do the translation.

English composer and organist Ivor R. Davies (1901-1971) selected six of the poems from the collection and set them to music. Noah' Prayer, The Prayer of the Little Bird, The Prayer of the Cat, The Prayer of the Mouse, The Prayer of the Raven and the Prayer of the Dove.

I really enjoyed learning this piece and singing with the NEC Camerata. This recording was from the Camerata concert at Jordan Hall, Boston 13 May 2009.

The Prayer of the Cat

Lord,
I am the Cat.
It is not, exactly, that I have something to ask of You
No!
I ask nothing of anyone -
but,
if You have by some chance, in some celestial barn,
a little white mouse,
or a saucer of milk,
I know someone who would relish them.
Wouldn't You like someday
to put a curse on the whole race of dogs?
If so I should say,
Amen.
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Staring Tiger & Soxie, with special thanks to Nemo the wonder dog!