the morning ice cold shower

as i step

into the cold shower,

the freezing

cold

hard spray

of only cold water,

colder now

because it's winter

and the pipes

are near

frozen,

i wake up to the day

with a loud scream,

energized

by the shock of it all.

i shiver

as i stand there with

a bar of soap,

the water cascading

down my head,

down my goose bumped skin.

i feel the north pole in my bones

as i begin

to get an ice cream

headache,

like i used to get when

eating

rocky road.

it's then that

i know it's time

to get out

and start the day, wrapping

myself up

in a big towel

as the dog licks my leg.