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
Jan Cutting (McLeod) studied English at University of Aberdeen and while there was Editor of ‘Scratchings’ an anthology created by the Creative Writing Group which included the mighty Ali Smith.
She began working in Marketing for an early internet company and then a Bank before running away to the film industry as Marketing Director of Scottish Screen. She set up ScreenScots, a network of Ex pat Scots in Hollywood who could help fledgling writers and producers develop their careers. Her Chair was Brian Cox of Succession fame.
After making a short, a documentary and a feature she returned to the real world and is now the Director of Membership, Marketing and Communications for The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
She still writes and has been a member of SWC for over two years. She is working on a rom com about a girl who leaves accountancy to join the film industry.
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