The Observer by Chipka
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Description
The city at night is never truly silent; there is an absence of cluttered noise, but sounds remain: the scrabble of a street-rat’s claws; the baby-sound of a cat yowling in some westerly distance; the sigh of wind through summer’s verdant foliage. There are scant traffic sounds. The rolling thunder of airplanes in transit does not tumble from austere and remote altitudes.
There are times, when you walk alone. The streets accommodate you. The rats are polite in their scurries and scampers; they do not approach you. There are restaurants here, and some remain open, though the night’s last diners are set to depart. Some cluster in doorways, redolent with spices and perfumes of strange and foreign pedigree. Ethiopian cuisine marks this stretch of Broadway Avenue, and you pretend to recognize its spice as it touches your nostrils in wafts and whispers like a flirtatious caress.
Home has been many things in many places, and tonight, it is a bed not far removed from where you walk. The lake, to your left, is locked in somnolence, and like the night, it is silent. Home, the place where you will sleep tonight, is not like home as it was in a land far, far away and more real than a fairy tale. It is morning there; the day has already begun. But here, in darkness, the night ages oh-so-slowly, and the city that surrounds you drifts into fitful sleep.
You walk.
You listen to the sounds of your own footsteps, and are halted—for just a moment—by the lone fire hydrant standing vigil. It is an old and rusty thing, focused—like some unseeing idol—on the building across the street. It is a windowless building, but this does not matter. The fire hydrant is eyeless and in no need of transparent glass through which to look. But in its eyeless way, it peers through glassless windows, and there is symmetry in this. It marks the night, giving strange balance to the silence.
****
I took this picture while walking with Corey from the internet cafe where we'd seen more of Star Trek: Voyager than is probably healthy. It was late. We were in the mood to guzzle iced tea from cans and snap as many pictures as possible, despite a growing weariness with the neighborhood. This is one such shot, an irony in that I work as a mover (not my choice) and the building here is home to a moving supply store. I loved the boarded up windows, the fire hydrant, standing like a sentinel, and the strange pinkish light in the passageway. Such passageways are common in Prague, but rare in so young a city as Chicago.
***
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great weekend!
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Comments (27)
KatesFriend
Great write up as always, it remains us that cold concrete and cracked asphalt can breaths with life - both human and others. I love the contrasting sections of this scene highlighted by the differing colours. The passageway seems to contain a completely separate universe from our own. Maybe a little brighter and chearier than this world. The hydrant, no doubt an alien who has entered here or seeks to leave for home via this portal. But the little red scout is always on vigil for those pesky quadrupeds which fancy it's person as a lavatory.
beachzz
I hear all those sounds. The city never sleeps as you say, there are always some little whispers to be heard. This foto is quiet, yet full of sweet, soft sounds.
mbz2662
Good work :) I like that hydrant view !
bimm3d
superb!!!
Hubba1
Really cool words, Love the shot :)
auntietk
I love the photograph, the mood, your writing ... this is so well done. I can hear your footsteps echo, a distant car going by ... good stuff, my friend!
claude19
Your story, beautifully illustrated, makes me think more to the impressions left by a European city that could do a modern American city. I love how you describe the smell, the lights and noises at night when everything falls asleep. I started to rewrite, but in my native language, French. Thank you for this delicious array of words as effective as a photograph.
MrsRatbag
Yes, I agree with Claude; your words are as effective a photo as the photo itself. Both are lovely!
bmac62
As I sit here after reading your always excellent prose, I am looking at the moving supply store and suddenly I see something that 12-24 hours ago I would have completely missed. Isn't that all Roman brick? Pardon me as I pat myself on the back:-) My Chicago architectural lesson from Tara's upload yesterday is already paying off. Great story telling...I was walking right along seeing, hearing, and smelling the sights.
helanker
A peaceful night in the city. Yes yes, your words go right through. I can feel it all reading your words. This is amazing. And that shot looks different, now that I read you. It all there. GEE!
witch_1612
Wonderful Work!!!
durleybeachbum
Your skilful narrative fills this photo! My town centre at night is not quiet at all, but heaving with the inebriated.
flora-crassella
gorgeous picture!!!! Really great!!!!
tamburro
Excellent light and gret shot my friend!!!
Meisiekind
Oh how I wish I could do that here... walk the streets of the city at night and listen... But here it is truly very, very unsafe! Wonderful image and sentiments Chip! :)
gypsyflame
As always your words have a way to taking me to the place you describe. I love it Chip and I can sense a part of you that misses the places you were before...I hope everything turns out the way you want it to be...
elfin14doaks
Is it possible to have too much Star Trek ever? I think not. Now go and Live long and prosper. This is a bit of a haunting shot.
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent capture!
jac204
Great capture and wonderful feelings that you express.
ladyraven23452
great shot and as always words that make the shot seem like gold.
Sea_Dog
Another great story and image. Well done.
myrrhluz
The first thing I noticed, was the fire hydrant. This is because Harry (goodoleboy) posted a lot of different ones that were yellow, orange, orange with a yellow cap, pink and red-over-previous-yellow. I found this fascinating as all I have ever seen is red. I like what you did with the hydrant in your story. Now as I notice them, I'll be looking around and wondering what it is watching. The second thing I noticed was the pink hallway. Like Katesfriend I saw it as seemingly separate from the building, like a passageway to an alternative reality. Wonderful detail throughout! I was particularly struck by the brick on the right (Roman, yes?) and the decorative line above the awning. Beautiful moody image and great descriptive story to go with it! Voyager was on at such weird times here, that I missed a lot of episodes. My favorite is still DS9, but I do have the anticipatory joy of seeing ones I've never seen before with Voyager.
faroutsider
The streets are not safe with you walking around - you notice everything...! Great shot and story (as always).
romanceworks
A colorful scene to compliment your colorful narrative. Interesting how it is night, and yet there is yellow and pink and red and green. CC
blondeblurr
One can almost assess the night, the way you were experiencing it, with the dialogue you are writing to match the pic and that is a great gift you have, to do so. *** But I had to smile, when you mentioned the polite rats scurrying and scampering around... because on the weekend, Jeff and I watched a beautiful little animated movie: "Ratatouille", which seemed so reminiscent to your wordings. Wish you could see it sometimes, it is worth the effort, trust me. Cheers BB
kgb224
Outstanding night capture my friend.
nikolais
awesome capture and prose, Chp!