What I Hear

I stepped off the subway and onto the platform, I began speed walking immediately up the stairs when I remembered, for this assignment, I was to listen to my surroundings. In this moment I realized that my day-to-day encounter with this city is a rush. I may miss out on sounds simply due to my eagerness to get from one place to the next in a New York minute. 

I stood at the top of the stairs of the 6 train at Astor Place. I began walking past the Starbucks, and I heard birds flying away off of the sidewalk, a taxi honking their horn, and two girls chatting on the corner as I walked past them, they soon walked past the street; adding to the sound of streetwalking.I

I arrived at Washington Square Park, and sat down on a bench. Rather grossly, a rat scurried past behind me in the grass, and two men playing chess could be heard as I recall the sound of pieces hitting the table. Groups of students passed, a loud group noise of chatter, and then died down as they left; group after group passed and the same loud banter and laughter could be heard, and once again silent; among other sounds of course, the constant traffic and breeze was in the background.

The sounds of the city may seem simple to think of, but when you truly sit down and try to describe what you hear, it's a bit more difficult. In order to truly get a sense of what it is like, you must put yourself in the city environment; sit down in Central Park, a side street, or at a small coffee shop. Closing your eyes and letting yourself freely be in tune to the sounds of traffic, people, and animals. The sounds of taxis honking, students laughing, and hustle and bustle in full force. I think sound is taken for granted, and the city is created full of not only sights, but sounds. Can you imagine if you could not hear the sounds of street vendors shouting, bars playing music at night, or the pre-recorded subway conductor? I know I couldn't imagine it, and I wouldn't want to.