Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker's poem "The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog" presents three distinct yet interconnected perspectives on what it means to be blessed, drawing on the voices of an old woman, a tulip, and a dog. Each voice offers a unique interpretation of blessing, revealing the varied ways in which different beings experience and express their connection to the divine, the world, and themselves.

The poem begins with the old woman’s definition of blessing: "To be blessed / said the old woman / is to live and work / so hard / God’s love / washes right through you / like milk through a cow." The old woman's view is grounded in the idea of devotion through labor and endurance. She suggests that through hard work and perseverance, one can become a conduit for divine love, much like how a cow processes grass and produces milk. This metaphor of milk flowing through a cow captures the idea of sustenance and nurturing, as well as the simplicity and purity of a life devoted to meaningful work. The old woman’s blessing is not grand or ostentatious but rather tied to the everyday acts of living and working with purpose, allowing divine love to permeate and sustain her.

The dark red tulip offers a strikingly different perspective on blessing: "To be blessed / said the dark red tulip / is to knock their eyes out / with the slug of lust / implied by / your up-ended skirt." The tulip’s blessing is rooted in sensuality and the bold expression of beauty and desire. The image of the tulip’s "up-ended skirt" is both provocative and powerful, suggesting a flaunting of its vibrant, seductive qualities. The tulip’s understanding of blessing lies in its ability to captivate and evoke strong reactions—its very existence is a celebration of life’s exuberance and vitality. The tulip’s blessing is not about quiet devotion but about the unapologetic assertion of its presence, its lust for life, and the impact it has on those who behold it.

The dog’s interpretation of blessing introduces a more instinctual and spiritual element: "To be blessed / said the dog / is to have a pinch / of God / inside you / and all the other / dogs can smell it." The dog’s blessing is simple and primal, connected to the idea of having a small but significant piece of the divine within oneself. This "pinch of God" is something that is sensed and recognized by others, particularly within the dog’s community. The emphasis on scent highlights the dog’s natural, instinctual way of interacting with the world, where blessings are not about what is seen or spoken but what is felt and known on a deeper, almost unconscious level. The dog’s blessing speaks to the inherent connection all living beings have with the divine and the way this connection manifests in relationships with others.

Each of these perspectives reflects a different facet of what it means to be blessed, whether through hard work and perseverance, through the celebration of beauty and desire, or through the simple, instinctual connection to the divine. The old woman, the tulip, and the dog each offer a vision of blessing that is deeply tied to their nature and experience, suggesting that there is no singular way to understand or experience the divine. Instead, blessings are as varied as the beings who receive them, each finding their own way to connect with and express the sacred in their lives.

"The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog" is a rich and nuanced exploration of the different ways that beings can experience and embody the divine. Through the voices of the old woman, the tulip, and the dog, Ostriker presents a multifaceted view of blessing that encompasses labor, beauty, and instinct, celebrating the diversity of life and the myriad ways in which it can be lived and understood. The poem invites the reader to consider their own definitions of blessing and to recognize the sacred in the everyday experiences of life.

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