Explanation of Pablo Neruda's poem "Keeping Quiet"

Explanation of Pablo Neruda's poem "Keeping Quiet":

Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the earth let's not speak in any language, let's stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.

The poem begins with an invitation to count to twelve and remain silent. The speaker suggests that, for a moment, everyone should refrain from speaking. The intention is to create a rare occurrence where people set aside their differences and unify in silence. By not speaking in any language, they transcend linguistic barriers and communicate through their shared act of stillness. The mention of not moving their arms too much can be seen as a metaphor for not engaging in excessive actions or gestures, but rather finding a calm and peaceful state.

It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.

The poet describes this moment as "exotic" because it is out of the ordinary. In this moment of stillness, there would be no rush, no noisy engines, and people would find themselves united in a sudden sense of unfamiliarity. The aim is to break away from the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience a new kind of togetherness.

Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt would not look at his hurt hands.

The poem presents examples of how this silence and stillness can bring about positive changes. It suggests that in this moment of collective quiet, fishermen would not harm whales, symbolizing a cessation of destructive actions. Similarly, the person gathering salt, who might normally be preoccupied with their injured hands, would be relieved of their pain as they pause from their work. These examples illustrate the potential for empathy (understanding/sympathy) and the avoidance of harm when people come together in stillness.

Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victories with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing.

The poem continues by highlighting the impact of stillness on those involved in preparing for wars and conflicts. These individuals, who plan destructive battles using weapons such as gas and fire, would momentarily abandon their plans. They would wear clean clothes, symbolizing a temporary purification or cleansing of their intentions, and peacefully walk alongside their fellow humans in the shade. This imagery depicts a temporary cessation of violence and the opportunity for unity among all people.

What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.

The speaker clarifies that their call for stillness and silence should not be mistaken for total inactivity or a desire for death. Life, according to the poet, is about taking action and being engaged. The intention is not to withdraw from life but rather to take a momentary pause from the chaos and reflect on our actions and their consequences. It is a plea for peace and understanding, rather than a renunciation of life's responsibilities.

If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.

The poet suggests that if humans were not so consumed by their constant pursuit of progress and self-interest, and if they could collectively embrace stillness and inaction, a profound silence might emerge. This silence, he believes, has the power to interrupt the pervasive sadness and lack of self-understanding that plague humanity. By momentarily setting aside our relentless activities, we can create space for introspection, and self-reflection, and ultimately find a path away from self-destructive tendencies