Ah, the distinctive sounds of the night; city sounds or country sounds. It’s midnight and I’m awake. Lying on the couch under the open widow, I hear the clatter and clang of a distance train and vehicle reverberations from state route 23. Crickets are chirping. Occasionally, two alley cats will fight and shriek. The street outside my house is quiet except for an occasional car. Infrequently, I hear the shrill siren of the nearby fire station. One of my favorite activities is to listen to the pelting of raindrops, the clamor of thunder, the sizzling lightning, and the rustling tree branches and leaves. I find the tinkling of wind chimes calming. It’s noisy in the winter as the road crews salt the roadways and return to their garage in close proximity. The cat lazes in the window and listens to the live entertainment as well. Inside the house the clock ticks, the refrigerator hums and in the winter the gas heater whirrs.
Country night sounds are distinctive as well with bullfrogs croaking, hundreds of crickets singing, bugs buzzing, distance barking of dogs chasing rabbits and shrieking cats catching small rodents, owls wooing, light-footed possums, and twigs snapping. Nature’s ensemble is both stirring and soothing. The speechless moon glows and dims. But the late night can be soundless in the winter months with silent snowflakes as animals and people take shelter.
The radio show, Night Sounds, by Earl Nightingale (now deceased) has comforted and soothed me. His burly, yet gentle voice spoke of stories, quotes, and experiences.
Night sounds encourage me to think deeply and write deeply.
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