sounds are silence...

for me.

i sit in nature and hear the silence all around me. people come to visit where i live and mention how quiet it is in the forest. i hear the popping branches of widow makers releasing from their mother trunk, squirrels chatter while scurrying round and round, finch chirp in delight as they gather morning seeds from night time breeze, crunching leaves announce slipping hooves from new deer trails in the making. i hear how quiet it is where i live.

i am sitting in a local mountain coffee shop and i hear the silence all around me. people come in and out of the side screen door. slinging door slams, damp soles squeak across tiled floor, steam wand whistles while milk warms, business chatter continues through fifteen minute break, heavy wooden chair clunks against table as patron attempts to exit unnoticed, keys clang from pocket, humans scurry around cream and sugar counter, words which we call manners are tossed between, hand shuffling in purse for cash, pop-snap of espresso tap creates a subtle beat while the grinder hums a monotonous tone. sounds are silence for me when i sit alone.