Friday, October 21, 2011

The Sounds Of Silence

Should your average person be able to witness a typical night in my home, they might think it was deathly quiet, and nothing of consequence .... but I don't think they'd hear what I hear every night before I try to go to sleep....

It begins with the *dull rolling* sound of a can as it slides across the ridged bottom of the refrigerator drawer ...
the metallic *pop* followed by a muted *fizz* as the tab top is pulled back and pushed in and *carbonation is released* ...
the sloppy resonance of the first sip, so as to save any of the liquid that may have escaped when the top was popped...
the *tiny crunch* sound as a dent is placed in the can ...
shortly thereafter the *clink* of the tall shot glass as it's retrieved from the top shelf above the sink ...
the *muted ping* of the glass placed on the wood surface of the counter in preparation ...
the released *whoosh* of frozen air as the freezer door is opened ....
the dull *clank* of the glass bottle as it's taken from the shelf in the door ...
the *jingling* sound made as the cap is twisted off ...
the *thin liquid sound* as it fills the shot glass ...
the crossover *shuffle step* as equilibrium is almost lost - then righted as the shot is taken in one *gulp* ...
the *clank* of the glass being placed to the left of the sink to lay in wait for the next time ...
the sound of *footsteps* towards the front door where the cigarettes are kept ...
the *scratch* of the thin cardboard as the top is slid back and a cigarette is removed ....
the *flick* or two of a lighter ...
the *muted crackle* of ignition as the first drag is taken ....
another *stumble* and then a *shuffle step* to remain upright ...
the *click* of the screen door latch as the door *slides* open across the flooring, followed by *slow steps* out onto the wooden porch ...
*mumbling* is often heard, sometimes it's unclear if it's to himself, or if he's on his phone ...
then SILENCE.... brief moments of silence follow ...
then more *uncertain steps* along the wooden deck leading back to the front door ...
the screen door latch *clicks* open ...
there is an *almost noisy abridged falter in balance* .....
sometimes a *thunk* or a *thud* ....
the door fully opens with a *swish* across the floor ...
*steps* committed to memory pilot him to back to the refrigerator ....
and then the *dull rolling* sound of the can as it slides across the ridged bottom of the refrigerator drawer ...
the metallic *pop* followed by a muted *fizz* as the tab top is pulled back and pushed in and *carbonation is released*.......
ad nauseam.......

I often wonder if anyone really knows, or for that matter even cares (& I am not even talking about just me) what the main cause of my insomnia is, or why I rarely want to have a drink, or am often sickened by those that try in vain to carry on with "normality" when they are drunk and slurring their words. Maybe it might explain why I am open to always having the TV on as a sound buffer?

Because on the nights I strive for silence my efforts are fruitless.... instead I get another night of sadness, worry, and the conscious knowledge that it's useless.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Words Crack Me Up

I kid you not, these really are correct terms for various groups of animals... and they crack me up... they also made me think that somehow they'd make a great kids poem... so I wrote one...


COLLECTIVE

I'm leaving' this place,
and I'm taking with me
a mob of kangaroos
and a grist of bees.

There will be a shrewdness of apes,
And a flange of baboons;
A smack of jellyfish
And volley of loons.

Maybe a husk of rabbits
And a mischief of rats,
How about a pace of donkeys,
And a kindle of cats?

I'm including a bevy of otters,
And an exaltation of larks;
A crash of rhinoceroses,
And a shiver of sharks.

Along for the ride
I'll have a sneak of weasels
A dray of squirrels,
And a convocation of eagles.

Best not to forget
The passel of hogs,
Muster of peacocks,
Or army of frogs…

As well as the herd of gnus, giraffes,
Elks, and seals;
Gaze of raccoons, clutch of chickens,
Clash of bucks, and swarm of eels.

If there is still room, I'll include
More of "team herd,"
There are many of them,
Or haven't you heard?

(Chinchilla, moose, walrus, & horse
Antelope, zebra, llama, & boar)

I must find a place
For the trip of sheep,
Clutter of cats,
And wedge of geese.

The parliament of owls
And brace of bucks,
Passel of possum
And raft of ducks.

There are so many more
I'd take in one fell swoop,
But I'm worried about cleaning up
All the animal poop.