Across the Sound

From the archives of living and working on a 7-mile long, 4-mile wide island off the coast of New England.

June 22, 2023

For a week, I could not quiet the world.

The wireless, symmetrical ear buds had split up. One through my pocket hole on a dirt wayside, and the other indefinitely in a monogrammed eggshell power base that was swiped back at the hotel.

My usual music mix was put to rest. And strangely enough, it was quite refreshing to hear the sounds around me speak for themselves. Discover Weekly had left me a handful of voicemails.

My middle window was wide open and I heard the distant echoes of cheering sailors across the pond. One voice carried higher, cooing in the wind and leading the chorale.

I closed my eyes. I can see the dock bar and the rose colored people; roaring and slinging their arms around each other as they sway, slurring sweet nothings and some semblances of song.

I opened my eyes. Nevermind. It may have been the glide of cars up Ocean Ave, returning home like any other night. But of course, there is validity in both.

The crickets sang in chirps; creating a calming lull for sleep, much less strenuous than counting fictitious sheep.

And even the house had much to say. The walls were dressed head to toe in hand-painted, delicate floral patterns. Each emoted a different character within. Mine was a mellow yellow with fainted Forget-Me-Nots and evergreen vines. And the lime stained bathroom off the studio was dated but had a private luxury.

The floors creaked, and ceilings dripped, but I sat and soaked in a tiger striped sky each evening. Warm light and shadows would dance together across my abode before disappearing till morning. Along the water, the sea foam would curl then flatten at dusk to a pool of blue swallowing the daily yolk.

The light winked for the last time, and gentle air drifted through the screen and across my covers to symbol a soft goodbye.

I longingly would wonder: “Can they hear me across the sound?”

And a whisper replied: “Even the faintest sounds can create a symphony.”