Keeping Quiet — Class 12 English

Written by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, this poem makes a quiet, powerful plea for a moment of silence, stillness and introspection to bring peace and brotherhood to a restless, violent world. The poet asks everyone to count to twelve and then keep still, without speaking in any language and without moving their arms — a rare moment when all the rush and noise of life would pause. He says this would be an exotic moment of togetherness and unity, free from the constant hurry that drives people. He clarifies that he is not advocating total inactivity or death; rather, he wants people to stop their destructive activities and reflect. He gives examples — fishermen would not harm whales, the man gathering salt would tend his wounded hands, and those who prepare wars of various kinds would put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers, doing nothing for a while. This pause, he suggests, would interrupt the sadness of never understanding ourselves and threatening ourselves with death. The poet learns from the Earth, which seems dead in winter yet is full of life, that stillness need not mean death; under apparent quiet, life continues. The poem urges self-examination and a stop to violence as the path to a more peaceful, understanding humanity.