Our Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday was “animal sounds.” “Write about the sounds animals make and how you experience them. Have fun!”
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It was after midnight. I went out onto the balcony to look at the stars. The darkness was thick like a wool blanket over our mountain hideaway. A few stars peeked out through the evergreen trees. Cool, fresh air filled my lungs and tingled my face and hands.
Then I heard it. It sounded like a duck quacking at first. Then there was a screeching, snarling noise below, maybe fifty feet away. Were the two sounds from the same animal? Were two animals fighting. Was something hurt? I didn’t want to think about that. I waited and the same noise came again, both noises right after each other suggesting it came from the same animal.
Over the next few minutes, the noise repeated. The quacking diminished and the snarling increased.
I would have loved to have heard a wolf howl, or even a coyote. Or a bear grunting. A wolf would be better. When I was five years old my dad was stationed at the naval base on Newfoundland, Canada. We lived on base near some hills where wolves would howl at night. I don’t remember this well, at least not consciously, but oh how I would have appreciated this more much later in life.
After a while, the noise did not come back and the chill sent me back inside. I never found out what animal or animals made that sound. I’ll listen for it when we visit the mountains again.
Years ago, I wrote a song. It was back in high school, kind a corny maybe, but heartfelt. The song was about extinction. I added a stanza more recently, but for some reason, I don’t know where I put the words. I wonder if I can remember it now. I’ll try.
Once you could see
a million brown deer
We knew they’d be here for us
a l w a y s…… a l w a y s
Once you could see
the birds in the sky
We knew they would fly for us
a l w a y s…… a l w a y s
(bridge/guitar solo)
You can still see the birds
You can look, even feel
And they seem almost real
Yet somehow out of place
In their polished glass case.
And the deer in the park
stumble in the dark
And they seem kinds lame
But no one takes blame
For their blindness.
(Here’s the new part:)
Once we could hear
the wolf and the whale
Their voices would sail to us
a l w a y s…… a l w a y s.
But the wolf and the whale
No longer cry
They’re just stars in the sky.
No one stands by
For the singing.
(bridge/guitar)
Still we can see
the birds in the sky
We pray they will fly, always.
Still we might see
A million brown deer
We pray they’ll be here, always.
Still we can hear
the wolf and the whale
May wisdom prevail for them
a l w a y s…… a l w a y s……
© Joanne Macco, aka joannaoftheforest
Hard to explain with no editing. I don’t remember if all these words are what I originally wrote, but it’s pretty close. On the guitar, I use chords …. wait let me check…. E, Em, and another chord I don’t know the name of in the beginning. Then there’s a bridge into the sad parts with G, D, A, and Em. Then back to the first chords for the hopeful part.
Dang. I didn’t write about Doodle howling when I tuned my guitar. But you can imagine.
I miss Doodle bug.
…
For more animal sounds in the stream of consciousness, and the rules for #SoCS,
visit Linda’s blog:
https://lindaghill.com/2020/02/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-22-2020/
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February 22, 2020 at 9:50 am
Appreciating your memories of animal sounds, and when you were younger, the wolves….your song, and feeling that love for our animal habitats…protection, love…
Your pupper is very adorable. I can picture…
February 22, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Thank you, Ka. Our animal friends and their habitats need all the love we can give them. ❤
February 22, 2020 at 10:08 am
Love the quote – “many great voices and not all are human” I feel the same way.
February 22, 2020 at 1:11 pm
YES! I loved it when I saw it, too. I hope more people will listen for those non-human voices.
February 22, 2020 at 10:56 am
Poignant musings on our impact on the animals and planet. Let’s hope we wake up to live in harmony. Thanks JoAnna.
February 22, 2020 at 2:11 pm
Thanks, Brad. I’m hoping with you.
February 22, 2020 at 10:26 pm
I know you are, along with action.
February 22, 2020 at 11:37 am
Love your song!
February 22, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Thanks, Linda. 🙂
February 23, 2020 at 2:49 am
Your song touched my heart. The extinction, or potential extinction, of the beautiful critters on this planet is breaking my heart. And, those who could do the most, do nothing. The rest of us try … but we can only do so much. Thank you for these beautiful lyrics. Now, I think next you should make a video of you playing and singing it! ♫
February 25, 2020 at 12:51 am
Thank you, Jill, for your kind words and encouragement. Maybe some day I will record myself playing it. The music adds a lot and it is important to do what we can to protect life on this planet.
February 25, 2020 at 1:35 pm
That would be cool! I look forward to it!
February 23, 2020 at 11:48 am
I love…Love…LOVE your song, JoAnna!! I wish you would include a video of you singing it!! The words are profound and incredibly powerful…especially being written by a much younger you. Your soul shines brightly and the clear message of love is empowering.
I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Keep shining!! ❤
February 25, 2020 at 5:01 pm
Thank you so much for your encouraging and heartfelt words, Lorrie. You’ve got me thinking about how I’ve carried this song with me all these years, thinking it was kinda corny, but now, it has become even more important. I think I’ll polish it a bit and maybe even think about doing a video. Your enthusiastic support means so much to me. I am grateful. Keep shining your beautiful light, too, Lorrie. ❤
February 26, 2020 at 7:55 am
That makes me so happy, JoAnna! Wow…I would love to see the video…and I’ve a feeling that I definitely will😉. Sweet blessings my friend 💜
February 27, 2020 at 6:10 pm
Sweet Blessings, Lorrie. ❤
February 24, 2020 at 6:56 am
Great SoCS for the prompt, JoAnna! I wonder what that animal was that you heard in the dark? Where I live, we hear the coyotes howl at night and the night birds and morning bird sounds too. Even the deer snorting. Your poem captures the sounds of animals very well, nice job!
February 25, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Thanks, Shelley. It sounds like you have wild and exciting music going on there in your neighborhood. 🙂
February 26, 2020 at 7:22 am
You’re welcome. It can be quite interesting to listen to, that’s for sure.