Keeping Quiet
The poem begins on a note of quiet introspection. The poet ask the readers to
count 12 and then sit still. He implores them not to speak any language and for
some time not involve themselves in any movement. In this moment of silence,
one can experience the strength of togetherness, a sudden strange relationship
to which humanity binds itself. In this blissful moment of extreme silence,
humans and nature will have time to heal their wounds.
people who are all the time engaged in the exploitation of nature and are
preparing themselves for chemical was coma which will leave no survivors
behind coma shall find time to wear clean clothes and walk around with their
brothers strengthening the message of peace and brotherhood.
The poet cautions that his thoughts should not be confused with total inactivity.
Life certainly is an ongoing dynamic process and should not be associated with
death. In this hour of introspection and silence, we will find time to understand
ourselves better and escape from the threatening cause of death. The poet feels
that the Earth teaches us how everything comes to a dead end and then comes
to life again. In the same manner from this hour of silence, one can learn the
need to bring all evil thoughts to their end and to revive a new life of peace and
tranquility. The poet bring an end to his session of introspection instructing men
to keep quiet and then leaves them in the tranquility.
Stanza-Wise Explanation of the 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 a second,
and not move our arms so much.
The poet urges each one of us to count up to twelve and then be quiet. He
wants a moment of silence on the earth when no language is spoken. In this
way, there will be no language barrier between people. No harsh words will be
spoken. In this moment of silence, the poet does not want anyone to move their
arms. He wants us to remain motionless.
Stanza 2
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
The poet feels that such a moment of silence would be an unusual and exciting
one. There will be no hurry or sound machines to pollute the atmosphere. It will
be a strange and unfamiliar moment. In this unusual period, the bonds of
humanity will get stronger.
Stanza 3
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would not look at his hurt hands.
In this moment of inactivity the fisherman would not be catching fish. Hence,
the whales in the sea will be safe. The man who gathers salt will be able to tend
to his wounded hands for which he had no time earlier. Thus, human beings will
not destroy nature and both nature and humans will be able to recover from
their wounds.
Stanza 4
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.
The poet now speaks of those who wage war against humanity or environment.
They create war of all kinds. He says that such men should stop their activity,
shed their clothes stained with the blood of humanity, put on new clothes and
walk with their brothers, building brotherhood. The poet implies that the
war-torn world should be replaced by one with an atmosphere of peace,
brotherhood and harmony.
Stanza 5
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about…
I Want No Truck With Death
The poet makes a clarification that though he is advocating the need for silence,
his advice should not be confused with total inactivity. He does not want any
association with death. He says that life is meant to be lived.
Stanza 6
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.
The poet further advices that people should stop being self-centred and selfish.
He says that this huge silence, which will arise from such a moment, will only
serve to help the people. It will help them introspect and overcome their
sadness of failing to understand themselves. This moment of silence will give
them time to understand themselves better.
Stanza 7
perhaps the earth can teach us
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.
The poet feels that the Earth can enlighten us and guide us in the process of
keeping quiet. He wants us to observe that there is some activity under
apparent stillness. For example, the huge fruit bearing trees are ‘born’ from
such seeds lying ‘dead’ here and there. At the end, he wants us to keep quiet
while he is counting to 12, after which he will leave.
Conclusion: Keeping Quiet
In the poem, the poet advocates to keep quiet to introspect and to build a
peaceful and harmonious world. He asks all the human beings to stop all worldly
Poetic Devices
1. Imagery – Descriptive language that can function as a way for the
reader to better imagine the poem. From the poem:
o “Cold Sea”.
2. Repetition – The recurrence of a word or phrase to create emphasis.
From the poem:
o “Without rush, without engines”
3. Alliteration – The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the
beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. From the poem:
o “We will”
o “We would”
o “Once on”
o “His hurt hands”
4. Antithesis – An opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed. From the
poem:
o “Count to twelve and we will all keep still”
Antithesis --Everyday Language Examples:
4. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
— Neil Armstrong
5. "Many are called, but few are chosen."
6. "Speech is silver, but silence is golden."
🔹 Constructed Examples:
7. "You are easy on the eyes, but hard on the heart."
8. "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
9. "Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing."
Questions & Answers
Q. 1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
A) Counting to twelve and keeping still will help us put a brake on rush of our
life. It will also help us to introspect, reflect and experience silence and peace.
In such moment we can find solution to our problems and predicaments.
Q. 2. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
A) The sadness the poet refers to emanates from the isolation of which the
modern man has become a victim man. This sadness has made man selfish.
Thus, he fails to understand the need of his fellow beings to lead a healthful
life. Instead, he threatens others with the sorrows of death.
Q. 3. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can
be life under apparent stillness?
A) The poet wants to invoke the symbol of automatic self-regeneration from
nature. Life remaining still in winter under the cover of snow and frost in the
form of seeds and leaves, automatically comes from life in spring. Thus, there’s
life under apparent stillness.
Q. 4. What would be an exotic moment for man?
A) The poet says that if man keeps quiet for some time, and indulges in
introspection, doing away with his progressive attitude, he would experience
an exotic moment. In this exotic moment, he will enjoy the bliss of silence
away from the chaos of life.
Q. 5. What is the poet trying to convey through the images of ‘the
fishermen’ and ‘men gathering salts’?
A) Through these images the poet is highlighting the harm man is causing to
nature and himself in his efforts to add comfort to his life. The fishermen cause
harm to the fish and the man gathering salts’ hurt their hands in the effort to
gather salt.
Q. 6. How would man be together in a sudden strangeness?
A) Man has become a stranger to his fellow beings owing to his excessive
involvement in the chaos of modern living. In the moment of introspection, he
will realise the power of mankind and in that sudden strangeness the strength
and togetherness of his race.
Practice questions
1. ‘Life is what it is all about;…’ How is keeping quiet related to life?
2. What does the poet want us to do in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’?
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