Cold Fingers

"Run them under cold water"
My mother said, "and the white
will go away"
And it probably would have,
had I the patience, but the red
didn't come back
I want to go back on the ice
My toes are cold
but noone is suggesting
I should run my toes under cold water
and what about my head?
Cold and probably
white all over but
I want to go back on the ice
My skates are
already untied
and off
my hat and gloves off
now someone is pulling
my sweater off
Very unhappy
I want to go back on the ice
Fingers still white
but my mother has hot cocoa
for my not-white lips
Touching the cup,
my fingers warm
and then I drink it up
happy, unhappy
I want to go back on the ice