Keeping Quiet

Answer

Pablo Neruda wrote 'Keeping Quiet'. His real name was Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He was born in 1904 in Parral, Chile, and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.

Answer

The counting to twelve suggests a brief moment of pause and reflection. It could represent the twelve months of a year or simply a short duration for everyone to stop their activities and remain still…

Answer

The central theme is the need for introspection, peace, and unity among all human beings. Neruda advocates for a moment of silence and stillness to understand ourselves better and stop the cycle of vi…

Answer

This phrase describes an unusual, beautiful moment when the world stops its hectic pace. 'Without rush' means no hurry or haste, and 'without engines' suggests stopping all mechanical noise and indust…

Answer

The poet says 'Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales.' This suggests that in the moment of stillness, even those who exploit nature would pause and not cause harm to other living beings.

Answer

'Green wars' refer to wars fought with chemical weapons and gases that cause environmental destruction. The poet mentions 'wars with gas, wars with fire' to highlight different types of warfare that h…

Answer

This phrase refers to wars so destructive that even the winners don't survive. It highlights the futility and devastating nature of modern warfare where nuclear or chemical weapons can destroy everyth…

Answer

Neruda says 'What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.' He wants a moment of pause for reflection, not permanent inaction or death…