Noticing lxviii - I-thou

Yesterday evening we lit the first of the Hanukkah candles. Our practice is to read a poem, then sit and chat as the candles burn down, enjoying the darkness and light. The first night's poem (my choice) was this, by Denise Levertov—in honor of our little white kitty Luna, who loves to knead:

The Cat as Cat

The cat on my bosom
sleeping and purring
—fur-petalled chrysanthemum,
squirrel-killer—

is a metaphor only if I
force him to be one,
looking too long in his pale, fond,
dilating, contracting eyes

that reject mirrors, refuse
to observe what bides
stockstill.
      Likewise

flex and reflex of claws
gently pricking through sweater to skin
gently sustains their own tune,
not mine. I-Thou, cat, I-Thou.


I recently read a book, How to Do Nothing, that discussed this I-Thou thing. It was posited by Martin Buber in 1923. As Wikipedia explains it, Buber says that we can address existence in two ways:

1. The attitude of the "I" toward an "It," an object that is separate in itself, which we either use or experience.
2. The attitude of the "I" toward "Thou," in a relationship in which the other is not separated by discrete bounds.

"In Buber's view, all of our relationships bring us ultimately into relationship with God, who is the Eternal Thou."

Yes, and cats too—as Levertov makes clear. Not to mention dogs, with their beseeching eyes.

Indeed, relationship—connection—is what makes us most alive, I believe.

Cats certainly help.