Aural Vignette
"Come" I said, motioning to Ann from the kitchen to follow.
We stood on the front porch in the darkness, listening. Morning on Goose Creek in the September of our lives sounds like this: drops falling from dew-wet branches; bush crickets whirring, one from a goldenrod along the pasture blends with the next higher up, in the meadow and a dozen more in monotone requiem to summer past; and beneath all other sounds, and around them, the rift of water over rock, falling into the hollow of itself, a spattering, tinkling liquid philharmonic of peace. If there were no humans on earth, this is what it would sound like. And there are two, standing utterly still, and blessed.
Comments
What a nice post; I love the line "tinkling liquid philharmonic of pease....."
Posted by: kenju | September 17, 2005 7:02 AM
Ahhhh, that's what I want to retire to. This scene, just exactly as you have described it. I wouldn't need any possesions, save for moments like that one.
Posted by: Laura | September 17, 2005 7:54 AM
We love hearing about it, Fred!! Thanks for sharing this...
Posted by: Gretchen | September 17, 2005 8:32 AM
I could smell the morning and feel that air on my skin. Thanks.
Posted by: Kim | September 17, 2005 10:51 AM
... and I hope there'll be four, at least for a short time, this Christmas. We're blessed, papa.
Posted by: nate | September 17, 2005 11:18 PM
Fred,
You're spoiled! Temporarily (for the next few months) all I have to listen to is the not so distant rush of the never ceasing calvacade of various and sundry cars, trucks, buses, the occasional motorcycle ... up and down the highway.
I almost swear the window glass must get thinner each day!
Enjoy, Steve.
Posted by: Steve | September 18, 2005 2:20 PM
This is beautiful, Fred. And heartbreaking.
Posted by: Kurt | September 20, 2005 12:15 PM
My husband and I retired to Amherst, VA after living in and around Baltimore for 55 years. This is the first time in my life that I don't have a public transit bus going past my house and we can no longer hear the drone of the beltway.
We watch the moon come up and enjoy the natural cacophony of the evening insects. We can hear cows mooing and the train in the distance. We, too feel blessed!
Jane
Posted by: Jane | September 23, 2005 9:38 PM