I brutally awoke today

To a shock of snow-laden air

Assaulting my benumbed lungs

And just when I thought

My misfortune

Couldn’t worsen

Icy fingers gripped my neck

(As soon as I threw off the covers)

And promptly dunked me

Into freezing waters

And, oh, by my breath

I flailed and fought

And floundered for air

But soon I lost

And lost my breath

And gasped a lungful

Of icy wares

The cold seeped through my bones

A blue haze haloed my head

And just when I thought I was dead

My eyes opened 

To a morning, even colder

Toasting to my impending torture

– Akanksha Gupta