Sluice

Water pours down in big drippy goblets, pummelling out a beat on the bottom of the tub. Stepping under the spray I stretch letting the water envelope me, watching as little rivulets form, sluicing off the remnants of the nights sleep. Staring out the window wondering what the day will bring, playing with words in my head. Sluice. Squishy, slippery word, I love the way it feels rolling off my tongue. Sluice. Whipping it into sentences, I ponder which is grammatically correct: The water gushes down sluicing away the night’s sleep, or the water sluiced away the grogginess. Stretching once more, I rub the last remains of sleep from my eyes. Finally ready to face the day I step out into the cold, a new word to play with, bouncing happily about my head. Sluice.