I have written several jokey parodies of hymns, but only twice written serious hymns. This is one of them. At our church in Creationtide we have a service for the blessing of animals. It has become dominated by pet dogs. This is fair enough, and they are very lovable; but there is more to the animal kingdom than pets. This hymn is intended to give other creatures a look in.
* * * * *
A
Hymn for a Service of Blessing the Animals (Tune: “The Day of
Resurrection”)
Come
bring your cats and guinea pigs, your hamsters and your dogs.
Come
farmers bring your woolly sheep, your gimmers, tups and hogs.
Let
praise for all Creation resound upon the breeze.
But
if your parrot says rude words, control it if you please.
Zoo-keepers
bring your charges; tapirs and wild boars.
North
aisle for vegetarians and south for carnivores.
We
love to see the gibbons swing, and chat to chimpanzees.
But
pythons, tigers, grizzly bears – control them if you please.
All
microscopic forms of life that live in sludgy gloop
We
owe our life to such as you, in the primaeval soup.
The
algae in the duck pond and the plankton in the seas
Shall
brithers be for a’ that (but don’t bring killer bees!)
Come
beasts, however humble; come rats and gnats and mice
Bless
midges, worms and ladybirds; bless ants and bugs and lice.
The
glory of Creation includes the ticks and fleas.
But
if you’ve brought a virus, do be careful not to sneeze.
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