I wrote this poem several years ago. It was another very cold winter, and I was lonely. There came my wonderful cocker spaniel, Scout. She positioned herself up against me, comforted me, and kept me warm. She sensed what I needed.

What I like about haiku is that it is like a Japanese or Chinese painting—spare and lovely, with each line evoking openness to perceiving what the natural world offers. It's a kind of magic that is transformational.

When I read my poem, I am immediately transported / transformed to the moment of its happening. I remember what I was feeling. It makes me miss my dog. Scout died three years ago.