Dusk

Swoosh of a car above, horn in the distance
tooting softly, kids voices screaming in play
several houses away. Car to the other side,
above, puttputt of a motorcycle, scratchy
scribbling of pencil. Scuttled rustlings
of cockroaches in the garden to the right,
revving engine, thump of Rap music nears,
and sweeps past, rustlings, rapping car stops
and parks, gate slamming, more cars, both sides,
squealing tires, dog barks far away, thrum
of air conditioner two benched-levels above
at the singles apartments. A meow, vroomvroom,
barkbarkbarkbark several streets away,
cats chasing each other in darkened yard,
slammed car door. Yapyapyapyap of chiuahua,
air conditioner turns off, car, barks, rustlings.
Cat jumps on the picnic table, car, continuous
distant barking, truck passes above, diesel engine.
Scribble of pencil, yapping, low shrill flute of
unknown insect, skitterings, voice calling child.
Barking, cars in the distance, air conditioner
turns on, barking, car approaching on both sides.
Wood hitting wood, another cat jumps up,
cars above, still that barking, car zooming,
cat jumps down, different dog barking,
rustling, scribbling, diesel engine passes above.
Cat licking fur, skitterings, car starts, barking,
air conditioner turns off, cars, neighbors talking,
kid yells, cat investigating under hedges, car,
crunching of car tires on my road, barking,
revving, neighbors getting into truck, leaving,
squealing steering column, skitterings.
Pencil scrabbling crazily, cat fight, me
running and yelling, blood rushing in my ears,
heart thumping, air conditioner on-off-on-off;
constant sound all around.

And the beautiful awareness of being alive.

Erin Elizabeth Kelly-Moen
© Copyright 5/1/04