Soundwalk

I decided to get off the train on Union Square instead of Astor Place,
both to lengthen the time of my soundwalk and ensure more diversity in those sounds.
Traffic is a staple to New York City.
The background noise of cabs, busses, and cars honking at, with, and against each other
is like some kind of mechanical language. I can hear the music playing from street vendors
speakers, an amalgamation of American rap and Puerto Rican guaracha music slowly
entering the foreground as I past their stands.
Overlaid are attempts to peddle sunglasses or umbrellas to the non-English speaking tourists,
who always fall for it. Going further downtown these sounds of street vendors and traffic
fade into something more residential. Street vendors become dog walkers,
calling out to “Fiona!” or “Daisy!” or whatever pesky little creature is tugging on the end
of their leash, barking at some other pet across the street. Traffic becomes bar goers,
shouting names and street corners into the world or into their phones “Joey! Go to Houston!”
Faintly from the other ends of their phone you can hear the response usually followed by
some slur. Bags rustle from people taking their groceries, home, AirPods or ear phones
faintly playing whatever over-amplified pop music they chose for their errands.
Further downtown towards the projects there’s a surprising quietness.
The sounds of UberEats bikes shifting gears or turning corners.
Whispers asking “Where the weed at?” as you pass, or on the contrary,
letting you know where the weed’s at. (They have it). Then as I approach my front door,
the familiar greetings of neighbors and their pets. Leashes rattling and “good to see you’s”.