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Prayers from the Ark and The Creatures' Choir Carmen Bernos De Gasztold Rumer Godden 9780140422009 Books

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Prayers from the Ark and The Creatures' Choir Carmen Bernos De Gasztold Rumer Godden 9780140422009 Books

This is an absolutely adorable book. The french version is better than the English, but the English is still fantastic. The animals have prayers that truly do seem to reflect animals' tendencies. I think my favorite was the cat "casually" mentioning that if all dogs were eliminated, it might not be a bad thing!


Tags : Prayers from the Ark and The Creatures' Choir [Carmen Bernos De Gasztold, Rumer Godden] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Simple, delicate, intense, these prayers by animals mirror mankind's desires.,Carmen Bernos De Gasztold, Rumer Godden,Prayers from the Ark and The Creatures' Choir,Penguin Books,0140422005,Poetry,Animals,Children's poetry, French,Juvenile poetry,Noah's ark,Translations into English

Prayers from the Ark and The Creatures' Choir Carmen Bernos De Gasztold Rumer Godden 9780140422009 Books Reviews

I have a prejudice; I am a total animal lover. These beautiful little poems catch both the job and the sadness and hardships of our animal friends. I don't speak French so I don't know if they would be even better in the original language but the translator has done a wonderful job of capturing the poetry. This is a beautiful work and well worth the investment.
These poems are an emotional tease that opens the imagination.
Earth lovers take note! These charming poems will open your eyes and heart to the bird's eye view - and the mouse's, the cat's etc. of their experience of the world. Will inspire children to kindness and concern.
I first became aware of these poems as a voice major in college, when I sang several of them set to music. I was looking forward to sharing the poems with my children, but I was surprised at how few of the poems were in this book. It is only "selected poems." There were so many other great poems in the set that I sang which were based on these by the same author. I wish this book had contained all of them.
By giving voices to animals in a series of brief addresses to God, poet Carmen Bernos De Gasztold speaks for us humans as well. The poems in Prayers from the Ark and The Creatures Choir, two books combined in one volume, are brief, poignant, touching and often humorous. For example, the Centipede begins its prayer with the words, "With innumerable little footsteps/I go through life/ but, Lord/ I can never/get to the end of myself!" The goat prays, "Lord,/ let me live as I will!/ I need a little wild freedom,/a little giddiness of heart. . ." The tortoise prays, "A little patience,/ O God,/ I am coming. . ." There is not a prayer in the book that a human could not pray as well. These poems reveal how we are spiritually akin to all these wild animal hearts.

The poems were translated from French by Rumer Godden, famous for her own highly regarded novels and autobiography. Godden has written a foreword for each book, telling how she came to translate them and detailing the life of the poet. The information is fascinating in what it reveals about two creative persons, author and translator.

The book is illustrated with simple pencil drawings of the animals, and portions of the original French text are included as epigrams.

I found this collection an absolute joy to read.
PRAYERS FROM THE ARK was written and published first, and the poems are in the form of prayers. THE CREATURES' CHOIR was written quite a few years later and these last poems are more like letters to God, where the animals refer to their daily problems. The author did not write sentimental verse. The poems of the animals seem to radiate with truth.
I was first introduced to PRAYERS FROM THE ARK in 1977 by my sister, Susan who lent me her book. Since that time, I've purchased two copies myself, and have given several as gifts. The original book was written in French by Carmen Bernos De Gasztold, and published in 1947. The famous author, Rumer Godden discovered the work and was so impressed with the poems that she translated them into English.
There are over fifty beautiful poems in this book where each animal speaks to God in his or her own voice revealing their individual traits and personalities.
The Dove--"The Ark waits, Lord; it has endured. Let me carry it a sprig of hope and joy."
The Dog--"No one but You and I understands what faithfulness is."
The Ladybird-- "Thank You for having made me so that no one is afraid of me."
This is a charming book for an adult to read and a wonderful way for a child to learn that every creatures' life has dignity and purpose.
A very dear friend read this book to me back in the late 50s and I was enchanted by it. The prayers of the butterfly and the old horse always stuck with me. I was happy to find it again and at such a great price !

This is a marvelous collection of conversations with God, prayers from some of the animals on the Ark. They are also a commentary or reflection on how many of us feel during these quiet, meditative moments when we are alone with our Maker.

Finding this volume again and holding it close was like embracing an old, long-lost friend. The prayer from the old horse still brings a lump to my throat.

Read it. You'll find it's a wonderful experience.
This is an absolutely adorable book. The french version is better than the English, but the English is still fantastic. The animals have prayers that truly do seem to reflect animals' tendencies. I think my favorite was the cat "casually" mentioning that if all dogs were eliminated, it might not be a bad thing!