The Flood, a poem by the 17th century Dutch minister and poet,
Jacobus Ravius, translated by Peter Speer.
High and long, thick and strong, wide and stark was the ark.
Climb on board, said the Lord.
Noah's kin clambered in.
Cow and moose, hare and goose, sheep and ox, bee and fox,
stag and doe, elk and crow, lynx and bear, all were there.
Stork and frog, skunk and hog, ape and snail, stoat and quail,
flea and hound could be found.
Lark and wren, hawk and hen, finch and kite flew inside.
Dog and cat, mouse and rat, fly and vole, worm and mole.
Creatures all, large and small, good and mean, foul and clean,
fierce and tame, in they came, pair by pair, gross and fair.
All that walked, crawled, or stalked on dry earth found a birth.
But the rest, worst and best, stayed on shore, were no more.
That whole host gave the ghost.
They were killed for the guilt, which brought all to the fall.
Later on, it was done.
Back on land, through God's hand, who forgave and did save,
the Lord's grace be the praise.