The sounds absent in space
become less distressing
with music playing, especially
ambient music with nature's gifts
mingled in. Listening, eyes closed,
I revel in the patter of rain, splash
of surf, wind rustled leaves,
busy crickets, bird song ...

The sounds here in space
become more bearable
with music playing—music
to muffle the constant
ticking, creaking, buzzing noises
of the ship, and occasional thump
of something hitting the hull,
making me jump.

The sounds of Bach and Vivaldi soothe
me played softly, louder to energize.
Even louder—rock music. When
snapped into my spacesuit where
no one can hear me, I sing along.
Heavy metal—louder still
and screaming, I can almost
silence the sounds in my head;

the sounds of voices talking—
talking constantly—
talking over my shipmates
in the common areas
where I sit by myself now,
non-stop noise so insistent
that I can't sleep anymore
here in space without music.