The latest thing – it’s really nice

My husband bought me a hot tub

It’s a soft circle in the backyard

Calm, bubbly, worth the price

I hop in at night before bed

Lay back, tilt up my head

See the stars, the clouds

My dog comes close, sticks his tongue out

He licks my head and arms

But I’m not alarmed

Birds perch nearby

Rats and squirrels run the fence line

The air is cool

I’m perfectly warm

Vasodilated

Muscles relaxed

My persistent tension hijacked

After 20 minutes I’m barely awake

But it’s time to go in

I stand

But before I can shake

I drop to the grass

My dog comes over fast

He gently gathers my legs in his mouth

Happy to lick them along the way

The rats and birds watch the show

My husband arrives not too late

Eventually I wake

At ease

Beside the hot tub

In the cold night, surrounded by the two I love

I’ll never freeze