Writing inspired by the SWC creative writing prompt: Write about the Cold.
The Three Stages of Cold
By Jan Cutting
Wet Cold Day – plus 1 or 2 degrees – Scotland.
Shoulders hunched
Sky and street meet in mist
Rain creeps into every thread and fibre of fabric
Drains your soul
Eyes squint
Skin liquifies
Dampness drags you home
Dry Cold, Cold – minus 23 – Quebec
Hard and crackled
Brittles your bones
Drives thorns of flaking crystal deep into your veins
Solidifies your spine
Eyelids stick
Forehead burns
Flesh seers in the crystalline air
Sunny Day Cold – minus 3 or 4 – also Scotland
Breath as smoke
Sun low and shadows long
Light fractures on soft white folds of deep snow
Boots crunch like tractor tracks
Spirits lift
Heart thrums
Legs push on to the top

Jan Cutting
Sunday Writers' Club member
I am really looking forward to spring now. The Canada lines made me think of my time in the midwest – Chicago winters came to mind. Hard and brittle and sticky eyelids – yes!
I shiver when reading this…and feel very grateful to look out the window to the early spring sunshine 🙂 Thank you, Jan for sharing.
This is full of such great description and imagery. Thanks for sharing, Jan.
Such lovely words and images. I’m freezing now