Cold - creeping cruelly,
causing constant cramps,
Constantly clinging clothing,
cumbersome, constricting.

Tucked up in the warmth of bed there is relief,
But during the day, when sun’s cold hours are brief
And we need to wander abroad the cold to meet,
There is very little comfort at all for us to greet.

Cars that never warm enough in melt inside snow,
Even if for quite a long distance you have to go,
When walking, especially into the wind so keen,
Smoking breath, bowed heads, only noses seen.

Clusters at the bus stop slowly turning to stone,
Stiff clothes and joints you now unwanted own,
Frozen locks, thick ice on every window pane,
Will anyone ever be really warm outside again?

Sometimes the wind blows snow into your eyes,
Cars won’t start, engine frozen, that’s no surprise,
Is it too cold to walk to work? What shall we do?
Fly south like most of the birds, so why not you?

M Ann Margetson January 22, 2002