August72009
Horror Movie Donkey
In the early mornings a thick fog smothers the farm. The fog hadn’t yet retreated back into the hills today when the farmer and I were harvesting kale. Something bellowed in the distance.
“Hear that?” said the farmer. “Donkey. I swear that sound’s been used in some horror movie. Terrifies ignorant cityfolk.”
I considered admitting that the only scary donkey recordings I had heard were on a Scott Walker album, but decided against it. If he had asked me what animal I though made that noise, I would not have guessed a donkey. I’ve always enjoyed being outside, but like the average urban or even suburban middle-class person, I’ve spent most of my life working, eating and sleeping indoors. Now that I’m spending the majority of my waking hours, and all of my sleeping hours, outdoors, I realize just how many sounds I’m unfamiliar with. Add a donkey braying in the fog to the list of sounds that have dropped out of our cultural consciousness.
