KEEPING QUIET
Keeping Quiet
Pablo Neruda
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 a second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
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.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
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.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
SUMMARY
This poem emphasises the importance of self-introspection and silence. Furthermore, these two can transform the life of an individual. Moreover, they can also transform the face of the earth. The poet says that self-introspection and silence do not take much time to look within. Any individual can do it and examine oneself. This is easy and takes only as long as it will take someone to count to twelve. During this time of introspection (self-examination), it is important for the individual to keep quiet. The individual must say nothing at all. Without silence and keeping quiet, self-introspection will not work. Silently introspecting will give the individual a strange feeling of unity and togetherness with all others.
In the beginning, it will certainly feel a little strange. However, eventually, it has the power to bring us all together. This silence will be free from the annoying sounds of engines. Furthermore, this silence will also be free from the people rushing to get their work done. The author feels contentment while imagining the change that will take place in those moments. The men who have to deal with the pain while collecting salt will get a little relief. Even the people who desire war and destruction will put on clean clothes and an opportunity to walk among their brothers. They will get to experience a life that is free of enmity and hatred. There will be a halt to their destructive and dangerous activities. Peace and tranquillity will prevail everywhere once such harmful activities come to a stop, even if it is for a short time.
The poet clarifies that his wish should not mean “total inactivity”. The poet only desires to interrupt the violent, cruel, and sad activities taking place all over the world for a few moments and let individuals introspect their actions. In fact, there is a connection to what he says with life rather than death. Activity is the very essence of life whereas inactivity is symbolic of death. However, for a new, improved, and useful activity, a little stillness is quite important.
The poet makes use of the image of the earth to explain how life exists in things that seem dormant. In winter, the earth becomes very silent, and it seems to be dead. The Earth becomes lively again in spring. Furthermore, in spring, the addition of fresh new beauties and colours takes place. In a similar fashion, man can resume his activities in a better manner after a little silence and quietness.
Conclusion of Keeping Quiet
Keeping Quiet summary tells us about the big impact of silence and self-introspection in making this world a better place.
First stanza
1. The poet asks everyone to count up to twelve in their mind. The number twelve represents the hours of the day or the months of a year.
2. He wants all of us to be calm and still.
3. People across the nations have to unite together, so, they shall not speak their own languages, rather they all shall keep quiet and speak the language of silence.
4. This will bring unity among all the humans on the face of the Earth.
5. For at least one moment, no one shall move his arms either to signal, or to fight, or argue with each other.
Second stanza
1. No one will be in a rush, there will be no engines running.
2. Everyone will be calm and quiet, united with each other in a strange atmosphere.
3. It will be strange because it has never happened earlier.
4. No person would be harming any other living being either for food or to earn his livelihood.
5. All the people who work endlessly will get some time to look at their injuries and the damage they have caused to their body.
Third stanza
1. The people who exploit the green wealth of nature by deforestation, or mining, or fishing in the deep seas and the soldiers who use weapons to kill fellow human beings need some time to introspect into the consequences of their actions. They are merely doing their job or following orders.
2. He wants them to put on ‘new clothes’ i.e., to adopt a new approach towards life and to realise that killing so many people is not a victory.
3. He wants all of us to be united as one, consider our enemy to be our brother.
4. He is promoting brotherhood, peace and unity.
5. He does not want us to stop our works but to take some time and analyse the results of our deeds.
Fourth stanza
1. All human beings work endlessly with the aim of completing all their tasks.
2. They are driven by the target of survival and the threat of death.
3. So, they are in a mad rush to accomplish all their works.
4. He says that perhaps, if they pause for a while, they can appreciate their achievements and their lives would become happier.
5. He suggests that by keeping quiet, we will be able to understand the true purpose of our life.
Fifth stanza
1. As the Earth undergoes changes, in winter, everything freezes, becomes lifeless but after some time, the season changes again, and everything comes back to life.
2. Similarly, taking a pause and introspecting into our lives will give it a new meaning. We will be able to understand the purpose of our life. It will be like a re birth of the soul.
3. The poet has conveyed to all the people the purpose of his message and so, he asks them once again to take a pause, count till twelve and walks out of the scene, keeping the scene open for all the people on the Earth to experience this for times to come.
Keeping Quiet Extract based questions.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness
1. What is a synonym of exotic?
a. Special
b. Unnatural
c. foreign
d. None of these
ANS-B
2. Whom does the poet refer to by ‘we’?
A. We refer to all human beings on the Earth.
3.Why would all be together in a sudden strangeness?
ANS- As we would not move our arms and not speak, it would be an unnatural moment and so, there would be a strange feeling.
4.State true or false-
The poet wants all humans to get together at a place
ANS- False
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers
in the shade, doing nothing
1. Green wars are a symbol of ______
a. War with organic weapons
b. Harm to nature
c. damage to green – coloured things
d. Harm to Hulk
ANS-B
2. Which figure of speech is used here-
and walk about with their
brothers
in the shade
a. Metaphor
b. Simile
c. alliteration
d. Personification
ANS-A
3. What does victory with no survivors indicate?
i. Wars are wasteful
ii. Wars lead to death and destruction
iii. There is no victory in a war
a. i, ii, iii
b. Only i
c. Only ii
d. i and ii
ANS-A
4. Who are the brothers?
A. Men are referred to as brothers. They may belong to different countries but they will treat each other like a brother.
5. What is the message of this stanza?
a. Be idle
b. Universal brotherhood
c. love thy enemy
d. None of these
ANS- B