Poetry: Keeping Quiet

Counting up to Twelve

The poet asks everyone to count up to twelve and remain completely still, using twelve as a symbol representing the hours on a clock or months of a year to signify a complete cycle of time.

Exotic Moment of Stillness

Neruda describes the proposed moment of absolute silence and inactivity as 'exotic' because it is rare, peaceful, and free from the rush of daily engines and speech.

Suspension of Harmful Activities

The poem urges fishermen not to harm whales in the cold sea and salt gatherers to rest their hurt hands, symbolizing an end to human exploitation of nature and self-harm.

Green Wars and Wars with Gas

The poet condemns modern warfare—wars against the environment (green wars), gas wars, and fire wars—which leave no survivors, advocating instead for victory with 'clean clothes'.

Earth as a Teacher

Earth can teach us how life can still thrive under apparent stillness, just as seeds and nature seem dead in winter but come alive again in spring.