Today’s Daily Prompt from the Daily Post asks:
“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.” — Allen Ginsberg
Do you follow Ginsberg’s advice — in your writing and/or in your everyday life?
I will try to rein in references to Ozzy Osbourne’s Bark at the Moon. I just saw that on Pop-Up Videos so I can’t get it out of my head when I read “Howl at the Moon.” I almost never watch Pop-up Videos — maybe once a year or less. Not sure how that even happened. I think Dave might have turned it on. A little dose of the 1980s isn’t the worse thing in the world for us. My daughter had no clue why we found it so entertaining. The comment bubbles on Pop-up asked if animals even bark at the moon at all. They concluded that wolves to not and apparently Ozzy was dressed as a wolfman or werewolf, so the video was just wrong. There you have it. Pop-up Science.
Is howling at the moon much different than barking? Does it matter what kind of animal you are? Not all animals bark or howl. Can I just meow at the moon? Maybe howling comes from deeper within than barking. Is it more guttural? Maybe it’s inspired by something more specific — a light, either inner or outer. Glow. I mean any old dog can bark at just about anything, right?
aLightningbug 
Oct 03, 2014 @ 11:05:59
Oh I love a good howl in the dark. There’s something primal and guttural and free about howling down the moon… but it’s best to check no-one’s around first or risk getting leashed in a small padded room 😉
Oct 03, 2014 @ 12:24:57
I believe you’re right about howling coming from deeper inside. We have a Beagle and they’re known for howling (ours has been less so inclined to my husband’s dismay). JD will howl at her as inspiration and hers is a deep, baying sound when she finally agrees to participate. 🙂
Oct 04, 2014 @ 11:12:35
Howling really seems come from a primal need. You can howl in agony or howl in laughter. Either way it’s not a casual thing (except for our cat Mojo who will howl just because he’s hungry, you might think he’s dying, but no).