the hound, the cat and the old man

“happiness,” declared old hound,
“is a good chew, a bone, a stick, a chair,
it’s a soft bed, a full water bowl and 
plenty of kibble, shelter from the storm, 
belly rubs, a window with a view, and
most of all my very own human to love
who treats me kindly and calls me good boy.”

cat rolled her eyes at hound, “happiness? 
I’ll tell you what happiness is you old fool
happiness is owning a devoted human
one who serves me prime pate. I must
have a water fountain and sun-warmed 
spots to nap, a fresh litter-box, catnip
and limited touching…no belly rubs 

an old man sitting nearby overheard  hound and cat, 
“It’s true. happiness is having enough to eat, 
someone to love, i agree with you two
but it’s also satisfaction from a job 
done well, hope and dreams, it’s learning 
something new, helping others, friendship 
It’s a way of life, a choice, a blessing!”

hound flipped onto his back, “belly rub please, belly rub paleeeeeeeaze!!!!”
cat leapt up on a windowsill, “whatever!“, she hissed, as she curled into a ball.
the man smiled, happiness is this moment

~kat

NaPoWriMo 2024 -Day 5 Challenge: Now, let’s get to our optional prompt! Today we’d like you to start by taking a look at Alicia Ostriker’s poem, “The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog.” Now try your hand at writing your own poem about how a pair or trio very different things would perceive of a blessing or, alternatively, how these very different things would think of something else (luck, grief, happiness, etc).