January 13th 2026
(Oil painting, music, words and video by me)
In the greying mists of forgotten yesteryears*, a little dog appeared; a solitary presence, standing in the middle of a quiet residential street, watching from a distant place not of this earth. Unsure and out of place, she walked cautiously (but not fearfully) at a slow pace dictated by her advancing years, looking for recognition but finding none. Every so often she would follow someone for a short while, but the realisation would soon set in that they were not who she was looking for, and she would watch them walk off into the distance, with a wisdom steeped in the sorrow of knowing.
After a few days she found her way to a small plant nursery, taking up residence outside the workers’ office, a neat little building painted in white that resembled a log cabin. Every morning she would sit on the steps leading up to the door with her head tilted, her tail tucked neatly beside her, and observe the daily routines of life in the horticultural world. She never barked or showed any aggression; there was just a silent acceptance and understanding of her circumstances and the environment she found herself in.
And then one day, she was gone.
Perhaps she found a new place of refuge. Perhaps she found a new custodian. Or perhaps, she returned to her place of origin, a place more befitting for her regal nature.
Sincerely, in reverence
SC
© Soolin Cottle
Artist’s notes:
*intentionally written as plural
I wrote this vignette in August 2023 and published it here without alterations.