« Guidance & Art | Main | Another Found Saint »
May 27, 2006
The Sounds of My Neighborhood
I walk in my neighborhood every morning, almost without exception. I spend the time taking in the multitude of events happening all around me.
The sounds are of the most influencing, especially with the many birds creating their sweet harmonious songs. There are some other sounds they make that are not meant to be sweet. Warning sounds, alarming tones... quite loud and definitely serving their purpose. Mostly it is the soft cooing of the doves, or the melody of other bird’s music that the Mocking Bird sings with seeming ease, occasionally throwing in the screech of some hawk.
If I were to choose the sound that penetrates with a terrible burden upon one’s ears, it would be the lawn blower. Like some cyclone monster held in some hard working, lawnman’s hands, it consumes all else within a good city block.
I wonder about the man who operates this creature. How are his ears? Does he not hear his son or daughter call to him when he arrives home? As he probably does this job for long days, weeks and even months, how can he possibly feel good at the end of it all?
We had a neighbor who has since moved, that was excessive about having his lawn cut. It seemed it was twice a week, but we were probably just so ravaged by the lawn blower that often interrupted our valuable sleep on so many early mornings, we lost track.
Wind chimes are something that always take me to some faraway place. They seem magical in their involuntary melodies. Perhaps not so involuntary. I
think it is the reminder I receive every time I hear these ethereal tunes, knowing the winds are always changing. This is comforting to me. Maybe it is about the breathing of our Mother, the Earth. A gentle breeze telling us that she is so alive.... that we are so alive.
Of course, there are chattering squirrels, barking dogs, school buses, garbage trucks, children walking to school, their parent’s cars rushing through the streets to work, the nearby freeway on days when the wind decides to come in our direction, and the many other busy sounds coming and going. I usually drown out most of this, as I keep a pace and find myself soaking in the soothing sounds and occasional tranquil breezes that so replenish my hungry spirit.
I love these walks.
Posted by kay at May 27, 2006 09:25 AM