KEEPING QUIET

BY Pablo Neruda

The poem Keeping Quiet written by Pablo Neruda is about

peace, fraternity and prosperity. This poem during 1950s,

a time when the world had suffered a dead war.

The poet too has experienced the repercussions of war and

his appeal for peace shows that he is fed up seeing humans

killing each other for power and money.

In this poem, the poet asks us to keep quiet for a while and

stop doing the worldly things and instead think about

ourselves, our nature and our brothers whom we hate,

Poet believes that, this way we will be able to build a

better world.
  The poem has been divided into five stanzas. The lines

vary from stanza to stanza. The poem is quite easy to

understand. However we will go word by word to make

everything clear.

Poem

Stanza 1

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.

In the first stanza, the poet says asks the audience to hold on,

stop doing anything and count to twelve and then keep still
i.e. silent. The phrase “count to twelve” is symbolic. I may

signify our daily routine or even unity (as clock’s hand

unite at 12).

Whatever the meaning be, the poet is asking us to keep silent.

At this moment, we will not speak in any language (because

languages create barriers and divide us) and instead, keep

silence which is the universal language and thus uniting

factor.

In the next line, the poet again says that let us stop for a

second and not move our arms i.e. let us leave our work and

quest for worldly things and instead keep silence.

The first stanza, depicts that the poet is not in the favour

of barriers which divide us and even our worldly desires

Stanza 2

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.

According to the poet, when we will leave all our worldly

affairs aside and remain silent, it will be an exotic (strange)

moment as there will be no rush and no engines (i.e.

machines). We will all be together in a sudden strangeness

which will be the uniting factor (as we all will be silent which

is a universal language).
The poet further says that during the moment of stillness, no

fisherman would harm any whales in the cold sea i.e. there

will be no killing of any animal for our benefits.

In addition, the person who gathers salt at sea coast would

stop doing his work and instead look at his hands which are

hurt and wounded because of excessive work.

During this stillness, all of us would wonder why we are

doing anything and it will surely have some impact on us and

our thinking.

Stanza 3

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.

What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

In this stanza, the poet talks about war,. According to him, all

the people who prepare green wars (i.e. destroy the

environment by cutting the trees), wars with gases (pollute

environment with their industries and factories), wars with

fire (destroy and kill others with weapons) and those who

have victories with no survivors (i.e. the powerful people who

defeat others by killing them) may put on clean clothes and

instead of doing that, walk with their brothers in the shade (of

tree) and do nothing.

Here, the poet discusses everything which humans do for

selfish reason including deforestation, industrialisation, wars

and battles. According to him all these people should stop for

a moment and instead of hate, they may preach fraternity and

love.

In the next line, the poet makes us understand that he does not

mean total inactivity. Instead, he is asking for no more harm

to anybody.

According to him, life is what it is about i.e. we have life and

we should live instead of fighting. The poet further says that

he is saying this because he does not want any truck with dead

bodies.

This line is deep and emotional. As I said in the beginning, the

poet has experienced the worst effect of world war II and

hence he does not want to see the mass deaths and destruction.
Stanza 4

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could perhaps a huge silence       

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

In this stanza, the poet says that if we were not so single-

minded (i.e. selfish, greedy and materialistic) about keeping

our lives moving (i.e. for growing ourselves), this keep silence

for sometimes, it will definitely interrupt (i.e. take away) the

sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening

ourselves with death.

In other words, the poet considers our greed, our selfishness

and materialistic mindset as the root cause of wars, murders,

and destruction. According to the poet, this mentality never

allows us to understand ourselves, i.e. our soul which always

wants peace and fraternity.

The poet believes that if we keep silence for a moment, we

will be able to cure our sadness which is a part of our lives.

Stanza 5

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.

In the last stanza, the poet takes the example of Earth to make

us understand the importance of patience. According to the

poet, Earth can teach us everything because nature is slow and

at one instance, it may look dead. However, with patience and

perseverance, it proves to be alive. e.g. trees grow so slowly

that they may look dead. But with time, they grow huge.

In the end, the poet again repeats the first lines. After saying

everything, he says that it is the time for action. He asks us to

count up to twelve and then keep quiet so that he may go now

(as his aim will be accomplished which is changing our

mentality).

Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions

that follow each:

1.Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.

Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

(b)Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?

(c)Why does the poet ask us to keep still?

(d) Find words from the passage which mean.

(ii) say number (iii) quiet and motionless.

Answers:

(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The name of the

poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b)There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours.

Therefore, the poet asks us to count till the clock measures

these horns.

(c)Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes

to mankind. Hence, it is better to be quiet and still.

(d) (i) count (ii) still

2. 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.

Questions

(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

(b)‘Let’s not speak in any language’, says the poet. Why?

(c)What should we not do for a second?

(d) What do you understand by ‘the face of the Earth ?

Answers:

(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo

Neruda.

(b)The people of the world have been indulging in wars and

bloodsheds on minor excuses. If they keep quiet, they may not

indulge in reasoning, disputes and quarrels. So, let them keep

quiet and not speak in any language. This will ensure peace

and prosperity.

(c)We should cease all activities for a second. Man has used

his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore, let them

not move their arms so much as to harm others.

(d) The expression “the face of the Earth’ refers to the various

countries on the surface of the earth.

3.It would be an exotic moment without rush, without

engines, we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness.

Questions

(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

(b)What will happen if there is no rush or running of

engines?

(c)What sort of moment will it be?

(d)How would all of us feel at that moment?

Answers:

(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo

Neruda.

(b)There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the

sound of the running of engines and machines.

(c)It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.

(d) All of us will enjoy the unusualness and sudden

strangeness of that moment.

4. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the

man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.

Questions

(a)What do fishermen usually do in the cold sea?

(b)What does the poet ask fishermen not to do?

(c)What has happened to the man gathering salt?

(d) What should the man gathering salt do?

Answers:

(a)Fishermen usually catch fish, particularly whales, in the

cold seas.

(b)The poet asks fishermen not to hurt or injure the whales in

the seas.
(c)The man gathering salt has injured his hands.

(d)He must take care of his hurt hands.

5. 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.

Questions

(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

(b)What sort of wars are mentioned in the above lines?

(c)What kind of victory will it be?

(d) How should the lovers of war behave?

Answers:

(а)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo

Neruda.

(b)Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with the

fire are the different kinds of wars.

(c) It will be a victory where no survivors will be left to

celebrate it. Such a victory will be meaningless.

(d) They should put on clean clothes and walk with their

brothers under the trees leisurely doing nothing.

6.What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity. i 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.

Questions

(a)What does the poet want? What should it not be

confused with?

(b)Explain: 7 want no truck with death’.

(c)What do people pursue single-mindedly? Which is the

better course the poet suggests?

(d)When can a huge silence do us good?

Answers:

(а)The poet is advocating for silence or stillness. Stillness

should not be confused with total inactivity.

(b)Total inactivity brings death. The poet refuses to associate

(or deal) with death. Thus, he is not advocating for death.

(c)People pursue single-mindedly on keeping their lives

moving. ..The poet suggests that it would be better if they give

themselves rest for sometime. For once they may do nothing.

(d)A huge silence can do us a lot of good when we are

disappointed at not understanding ourselves or threatening

ourselves with death.

7. 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.

Questions

(a)What can the Earth teach us?

(b)What remains alive when everything seems dead?

(c)Who is the poet? What does he want to do?

(d)What does the poet ask us to do?

Answers:

‘(a) The earth can teach us a lesson how to live on it.

(b)Only the earth remains alive when everything seems dead.

(c) The poet is Pablo Neruda. He wants to count upto twelve.

(d) He asks us to keep quiet while he is counting upto twelve.

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help

us achieve?

Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping

still for this brief interval of time gives us a momentary pause

to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally

observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are

caused by our rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger.

Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and

ensure peace.

Q2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and

death?

Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death.

He makes it quite clear that ‘stillness’ should not be confused

with “total inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity brings

death. But Neruda has ‘no truck with death’. His stillness

means halting of harmful and hostile human activities.

Q3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the

poem? [All India 2014]

Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and

thoughts. It is quite ironical that man who understands so

much fails to understand himself and his action. Rash actions

prove harmful and disastruous. Man is the creator of all

disasters. He is always threatening himself with death because

of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.

Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say

that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under

apparent stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a living

symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total

inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time even under

apparent stillness. It keeps earth alive. This idea is beautifully

illustrated by the following lines:“as when everything seems

dead and later proves to he alive.”

Q5. Choose a quiet corner and keep still physically and

mentally for about five minutes. Do you feel any change in

your state of mind?

Ans: Extension Activity: For self-study.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (Word Limit: 30-

40 words)

Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?

Ans: Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet

introspection. We hear the voice of conscience in moments of

silence. The poet is convinced that most of human ills and

miseries are caused by man’s hurry and rush to do things. The

poet wishes that we may withdraw ourselves from our

undesirable actions and keep still for a moment.

Q2. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not

move our arms so much”?

Ans: People of the world speak in different languages. They

indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. Most of these

arguments lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to

stop speaking in any language. They must speak through their

hearts. So far men have moved their arms only to harm others.

Therefore, the poet wants that they should not move their

arms so much. Let these arms rest for once. Let a feeling of

mutual understanding , be created among human beings.

Q3. Pablo Neruda says:“we would all be together in a

sudden strangeness.”

When can we experience such a moment? Why will that be

an exotic moment?
Ans: Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush and noise have

made our lives unpleasant and full of misery, pain and

troubles. We must stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and

running. Even the noise of engines and machines must stop

for once. Then all of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness of

that moment. It will be a unique moment. In that exotic or

fascinating moment we shall feel totally relaxed, physically as

well as mentally.

Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man

collecting salt to dot What docs In-exactly want to convey

by this?

Ans: Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He

addresses the fishermen and asks them not to harm whales

living in the cold seas of the polar regions. He is also against

any kind of self torturing. The man who is gathering salt has
hint his hands. He asks this man to look after himself and take

care of his injured hands.

Q5. What are the different kinds of war mentioned

towards war?

Ans: The poet is against wars of all kinds. He wants a total

stoppage of war. Green wars against the environment, wars

with poisonous gases and wars with fire must be terminated

(stopped) at once.

Q6. What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead

of indulging in wars?

Ans: Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out

in their best dresses with then- brothers. They should go out

for a walk under the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing

nothing. This would bring the feeling of togetherness among

them.
Q7. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total

inactivity’? Why does Neruda saw I want no truck with

death?

Ans: Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We

remain still and quiet for sometime. On the other hand, total

inactivity is a permanent suspension of work. It is just like

death. ‘Stillness’ should not be Confused with ‘total

inactivity’. Life goes on as usual. There can’t be anything like

total inactivity. The poet refuses to associate with death or

deal with it.

Q8. Why does the poet fee! that we should not be so single-

minded’?

Ans: People are generally single-minded. They want to focus

on only one thing. They want to keep their lives going. They

are ever busy in their pursuit. The poet wishes that they would

not be so much absorbed with always remaining on the move.

They must have some respite or rest. They too need peace or

silence.

Q9.Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be

overcome?

Ans: Men fail to understand themselves. They are always

threatening themselves with death. When they realise their

failure to understand themselves they become sad or helpless.

Fear of death also makes them sad. Only a huge silence’ can

interrupt this sadness. Such silence will do them good.

Q10. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of

men?

Ans: Men never understand themselves. Nor are they ever

sure of their actions. They face another tragedy. Due to their

own actions, they are threatening themselves with death. This

realisation makes them helpless and sad. Only a huge (long)

silence might interrupt this sadness and do them some good.

Q11. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify this

statement giving an example from the poem ‘Keeping

Quiet’.

Ans: Neruda does not equate stillness with total inactivity. He

believes that under this apparent stillness there is life. We can

learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth

still remains alive. The earth is never dead. The life on the

earth goes on as usual under the apparent stillness.

Q12. Justify the title ‘Keeping Quiet’.

Ans: The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. It

suggests the necessity of quiet introspection. The people of

the world are overactive and always on the move. Their

activities have caused untold troubles and sufferings. Keeping

quiet will do them a lot of good. It will save them from many

harmful and violent activities. Moreover, it will help in

reflecting over the fate of man and help in creating a feeling

of mutual understanding among human beings.

Q13. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in

‘Keeping Quiet’

Ans: The poet talks about the exotic moment when everyone

keeps quiet. There will be no rush for a second. The machines

must stop for a moment. That moment will be fascinating for

all of us. All of us shall enjoy the sudden strangeness of the

moment together.