Carmen Bernos de Gasztold
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Carmen Bernos de Gasztold (born 1919) spent her childhood in the province of Bordeaux, France. She comes from the old Goštautai family and had 5 sisters and brothers. After World War II she went to live at the Benedictine Abbeye Saint Louis de Temple at Limon-par-Igny. Her masterpiece Prayers from the Ark was originally published by the private press of the abbey. The 27 poems, each a simple prayer by one of the animals in Noah’s Ark, are full of wit, gentle devotion and warmth. Another collection of poems The Creatures' Choir was written quite a few years later in the form of poetic letters to God, where the animals refer to their daily problems.
[edit] English translation
English translation was written by Rumer Godden (1907–1998) who went to the Benedictine Abbey in France and spent time with the poet to do the translation. A sample poem:
The Prayer of the Butterfly
Lord!
Where was I?
Oh yes! This flower, this sun,
thank You! Your world is beautiful!
This scent of roses...
Where was I?
A drop of dew
rolls to sparkle in a lilly‘s heart
I have to go...
Where? I do not know!
The wind has painted fancies
on my wings.
Fancies...
Where was I?
Oh yes! Lord,
I have something to tell you:
Amen
