The Dude, believing himself a novelist, meets a lady who takes him to a haiku class. He writes one haiku after another, he but never understands the meaning or purpose of a haiku. The teacher becomes his friend and over the years, sends him a haiku book now and then. When the Dude's lady dies, the teacher sends him several haiku books. He reads them over and over to no avail. Finally, sad and alone on a dark, winter night, the Dude reads a haiku poem that

transports him to another time and place. Tears come to his eyes and a longing for home and family come to his heart, and he understands at last.