By Doria Ruhl (SDAWP 2024)
During SDAWP’s Spring Conference on Saturday, March 1st, I attended Stacey Goldblatt’s session on constructing a Hope Kit through writing. Of the many ways to write for resilience — so excitedly and interestingly presented by Stacey — I chose to write a blessing inspired by the mentor text provided, “Blessing on the Smell of Dog”, found in Chants, Charms, and Blessings by Joyce Sidman. Because the blessing we read featured a dog, I drew from my own experience of being a long-time cat mom, and wrote my own, about the nature of the cat. Thank you, Stacey, for the inspiring session!
Blessing on the Nature of the Cat
by Doria Ruhl
May the cat always stand on the counter.
Up high, statuesque,
nimble in jumps, holding her ground.
May we forgive her
for the little pillow prints on the stove,
as she so diligently investigates
that we’ve not forgotten it on
in the haste of a speedy weekday coffee
or in the slow of a sleepy weekend breakfast.
May we forgive the litter she scatters around the floor,
as we took away her world outdoor.
May cat whiskers tickle sleeping cheeks too early,
and may we forgive midnight zoomies
as she activates protective shields around the house.
May we praise instead the gentle curling up in bed,
in the nooks of our sleeping bodies,
like a hot water bottle: den, comfort, home.
Blessing on the Smell of Dog
by Joyce Sidman
May the dog always smell of Dog.
May his scent seep through
perfumed shampoos
like the rich tang of mud in the spring.
May the grass cling to his paws,
the loam to his belly;
may his fur hold the wind's breath.
May we forgive him
his whiffs of carrion and scat
from the treasures he gathers so diligently.
As we turn from all that is false,
may we praise instead
the warm scent buried like a promise
in that deep-hearted chest:
den, comfort, Home.
SDAWP Voices 