Every day during this February cold spell
with its plunge below zero every night,
I am a sun seeker in the middle of the day
I curl up on the little couch with a book,
my feet catching the rays of the winter sun,
hoping that Shadow will join me,
her blue-gray fur a far more effective sun catcher
than my bare skin or hoodie.
I sink into the combined heat of the sun
and a yellow-eyed being.
Our breath and hearts attune.
she stretches out her paw to locate my face
softly, considerately. She tickles me awake
with her whiskers, snuggles in for another snooze
or jumps off the couch to see if by some miracle
her food bowl is full again.