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
