Keeping Quiet

About the poet

Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (12 July 1904 - 23 September 1973) was born in Parral, Chile and was a poet, diplomat and politician. Known by his pen name Pablo Neruda, he was one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Originally written in Spanish, his poems often use straightforward language and everyday experience to create an impression that lasts. His writing encompassed a variety of genres, including surrealist poems, historical epics, political manifestos, prose autobiography, and passionate love poems. Neruda wrote poems about politics, social change, existentialism, nature, and unique descriptions of everyday objects. He suffered financially and accepted a number of diplomatic positions despite early literary fame. In his lifetime, Neruda received a number of honours, including the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Lenin Peace Prize, and the International Peace Prize. Some of his notable works include "Elemental Odes", "Residence on Earth", "Then Come Back: The Lost Neruda", "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair".

In the poem 'Keeping Quiet' Pablo Neruda addresses the importance of peaceful introspection in addressing many of our societal, political, and religious issues.

Word-meaning

Introspection - Examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings; self-analysis.
Still - Not moving or making a sound; deep silence and calm.
The face of the earth - Used for emphasis, the expression means 'in the whole world'.
Exotic - Strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance.
Strangeness - The quality of being unfamiliar.
Want no truck with - Avoid dealing or being associated with.
Interrupt - Stop the continuous progress of an activity or process.
Threatening - Indicating or suggesting the approach of possible trouble or danger.

Summary

In this poem, the poet urges everyone to count till twelve and to stop and keep calm for a while. He wants us all to self-reflect and examine our actions to see how ethical or atrocious they actually are.

Our silence will act as a unifying force, as the differences in languages spoken in different parts of the world can create a barrier between us all.

When everything will come to a standstill, it will be an unusual moment. People will not be in a rush to get their work done, and there will be no annoying engine noises. It'll be an unfamiliar situation as the world will be in sudden calmness and tranquillity.

Fishermen would also stop harming whales in the sea, and the man who gathers salt will get the time to look at his hurt hands and see the damage he has caused to himself.

The people who cause harm to nature by their destructive activities and those who seek wars - a threat to human life

would introspect into the consequences of their actions and see life with a new perspective. They'll realise the futility of war, and there will be brotherhood and unity among people.

The poet clarifies that total inactivity is not what he wants, but that we stop for a while and analyse the results of our deeds. We are living a life where we want to achieve various things one after another. But now we should stop for a while and celebrate what we have achieved so far. This will help us stop feeling sad and be grateful for everything that life has gifted us with.

We should learn from Earth how everything appears lifeless at one moment and then comes back to life again. In the winter, everything freezes and seems dead, but at the onset of the spring season, the world revives and everything gets life. It reminds us of how beautiful "change" can be. Similarly, we should take a pause, introspect into our lives, and start a fresh beginning.

Explanation

"Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still."

Explanation - The poet emphasizes the value of quiet introspection and how reflecting on one's own conscious thoughts and actions can resolve conflicts and bring harmony and peace in the world. The poet urges everyone to count till twelve in their mind and put a halt to their activities for a bit. This "twelve" here used by the poet could be a reference to either the twelve hours in the clock or the twelve months in a year. He wants us all to be quiet and 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."

Explanation - The poet requests everyone to refrain from speaking in any language. The world in which we live is incredibly diverse, and this diversity extends to linguistic diversity. The differences between the various languages spoken in different parts of the world becomes a barrier to communication. Therefore, he requests that we keep quiet, as it will bring unity among people across the nations. We engage in a variety of activities using our arms, such as fighting and quarrelling. The poet asks us to stop moving our arms for at least a second. The word "arms" here refers to the weapons and armaments employed by different countries in a war that poses a great threat to mankind and causes mass destruction.

"It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,

we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness."

Explanation - It will be an extraordinary event when everything stops at once. There would be no rush among people to acquire material possessions, and all the engines-powered machinery and vehicles would stop running since the individuals operating them would cease. When there is absolutely no movement or activity, it will be a very unusual moment since it has never happened earlier. The world will experience a sudden calmness, and mankind will be united in this strange environment.

"Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands."

Explanation - The fishermen would stop their exploitative activities and not harm marine ecosystems. In this stanza, the poet advocates that animals should be free to live as they wish without being exploited or subjected to the desires of human beings. The whales are hunted and killed by humans for their meat and for commercial gain. The labourers collecting salt live in miserable conditions and endure many hardships. Salt is the livelihood for these people, but also the cause of their wounds. The salt gatherers who work endlessly would stop for a bit and acknowledge the harm they've done to themselves. The poet wants us to stop for a while and consider how our actions impact us as individuals and also our surroundings. In this process, we would also realise the cost for acquiring materialistic possessions.

"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."

Explanation - The people who exploit nature's green resources by destroying forests, causing pollution due to harmful gases released by industries and vehicles, burning fossil fuels, letting chemical waste into water bodies, as well as those who start wars using weapons and explosives would stop to introspect on the consequences of their actions and recognise the destruction they've caused. They would realise that the cost of victory makes war futile; we simply cannot think about war and the so-called benefits victory brings without taking into account the number of people whose lives were lost. The poet wants us to adopt a new approach towards life where we do not discriminate among people on any ground, consider our enemies to be our brothers, and protect each other.

"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."

Explanation - The poet gives clarification that what he demands is not complete inactivity but that we stop our activities for a short moment and analyse the results of our deeds. Life is all about activity and living it to the fullest. He has no association with death. Further, he says that people are tirelessly working towards their goals because they're afraid they'd die without achieving their aims. The poet urges them to stop for a while and take some moment to enjoy their accomplishments until now. Being still for a while, reflecting on the past, and feeling grateful for all that we have achieved would help us skip this sadness we feel in our lives when we don't recognise and celebrate what we have attained. The endless striving and never ending desire is the reason behind the prominent sadness and the constant stress we feel. Perhaps if we pause for a while, we can appreciate our achievements, and our lives would become happier. The poet suggests that by keeping quiet, we will be able to discover the true purpose of our lives.

"Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive."

Explanation - The poet suggests us to learn a lesson from Mother Earth. When natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods,and tsunamis hit the earth, it results in mass destruction, but eventually there is restoration. During extreme weather conditions like winters, everything becomes lifeless due to freezing temperatures, but after some time, the season changes, and with the onset of spring season, everything in nature comes back to life. Similarly, we should stop for a while, introspect into our lives, and start again with a new meaning and purpose in our minds. The calmness and peace can truly help us change our lives for the better.

"Now I'll count up to twelve

and you keep quiet and I will go."

Explanation - The poet ends the poem by saying that now he'll count to twelve and asking us to become quiet. He wants us to calm ourselves, engage ourselves in deep introspection, and take steps in the direction of peace and harmony. After saying this, he walks out of the scene. He has conveyed to the people his message and now wants them to be left alone so they can reflect on it and make a change in their lives.

Poetic devices

Alliteration - The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighbouring words or syllables.

Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness
would look at his hurt hands
wars with gas, wars with fire
would put on clean clothes
If we were not so single-minded
Now I'll count up to twelve

Assonance - The repetition of similar vowel sounds takes place in two or more words in proximity to each other within a line of poetry or prose.

Now we will count to twelve (Prominent sound of 'o' and 'e').
and not move our arms so much. (Prominent sound of 'o').
victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers
(Use of vowel 'o').

Antithesis - It is a figure of speech that places two completely contrasting ideas or clauses next to one another.

Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.

Repetition - Repetition is when a single word or phrase is used multiple times in short succession to secure emphasis.

Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
without rush, without engines
wars with gas, wars with fire,

Anaphora - Repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighbouring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis.

let's not speak in any language, let's stop for one second,

Pun - A pun is a figure of speech that plays with words that have multiple meanings, or that plays with words that sound similar but mean different things.

and not move our arms so much. (The word 'arms' could mean weapons and could also mean upper limb).

Symbolism - The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

Now we will count to twelve (The number twelve symbolises twelve hours of the day or twelve months of the year).
Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales (Fishermen and whales represent oppressor and the oppressed respectively).
Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, (Green wars symbolises the environmental deterioration caused by human activities, wars with gas refer to the increasing pollution and wars with fire represent different wars which employ the use of nuclear weapons and explosives that cause massive destruction).
and walk about with their brothers ('Brothers' symbolises universal brotherhood and unity).

Transferred epithet - When an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another.

Fishermen in the cold sea (It's the fishermen who are so cold that they do not feel any emotions while harming the whales).

Metaphor - A comparison between two things that states one thing is another in order to help explain an idea or show hidden similarities.

would put on clean clothes (Clean clothes are compared to a new perspective or outlook).
in the shade, doing nothing. (The shade here refers to protection).

Personification - It is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects, are given human qualities.

Perhaps the Earth can teach us

Imagery - The use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience or create a picture with words for a reader.

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

Enjambment - A line of poetry carries its idea or thought over to the next line without a grammatical pause.

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,
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.
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.
If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving,
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.

Rhyme scheme

Keeping Quiet poem is written in free verse and has no rhyme scheme. It does not have a consistent metrical pattern or a fixed structure.

Theme of the poem

The poem conveys a message of empathy and compassion towards our fellow beings and the world around us. It encourages us to take a moment to look inward and evaluate our actions and their impact on ourselves and others. The poet highlights the negative consequences of cruelty, violence, and destructive behaviour, and emphasises the importance of finding peaceful solutions to conflicts. By promoting mutual understanding and harmony, the poem suggests that we can create a more compassionate and empathetic society.

The poem also highlights the idea that material success and wealth should not be the sole focus of our lives. Instead, we should prioritise our physical and mental well-being, as well as the well-being of those around us. By doing so, we can create a more peaceful, harmonious, and compassionate world for ourselves and future generations.

NCERT Solutions

Think it out

1. What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

Answer - Reflecting in silence while counting upto twelve can help us review our actions and understand ourselves better. This introspection can make us realise how our actions affect us and those around us. The silence can also inspire empathy and brotherhood between people with conflicting views. This simple practice can help us be more aware of ourselves, feel calmer, and be kinder to others.

2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

Answer - The poet clearly states that what he wants shouldn't be compared to or confused with 'total inactivity' which would result in death. Life is defined by our actions and we cannot simply stop. Rather, the poet suggests taking a pause to reflect on our actions and our own selves. By doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of who we are, and can start again with renewed clarity and purpose. The poet encourages us to celebrate our accomplishments and take time to reflect, rather than mindlessly moving from one task to another.

3. What is the 'sadness' that the poet refers to in the poem?

Answer - The poem refers to a feeling of 'sadness' that arises when we fail to appreciate the things we already possess and become consumed by an insatiable desire for more. This sense of dejection is a direct consequence of our own actions and behaviour. Often, we pursue our goals relentlessly without pausing to reflect on the impact of our actions, the quality of our lives, and our overall level of happiness. Unfortunately, this approach can lead us down a path of self-destruction, both in terms of our actions and our thoughts.

4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Answer - The poet utilises the Earth as a symbol to emphasise that life can exist even in apparent stillness. The Earth teaches us about the cycle of rebirth and regeneration. During the fall season, trees and flowers shed their leaves, and everything in nature gradually goes dormant. In the winter, everything freezes and appears lifeless. However, with the arrival of spring, flowers blossom, trees begin to grow and reproduce, and nature comes back to life. It's as if the Earth has undergone a rebirth. The poet encourages people to pause and reflect to realise their purpose and experience a similar renewal that could transform their lives.

Written by: Janhavi Singh

Keeping Quiet - About the poet, Word-meaning, Summary, Explanation, Poetic devices, Rhyme scheme, Theme, NCERT Solutions