Pablo Neruda’s simple yet evocative poem urges us to pause for a moment and introspect upon the consequence of our actions. The poet address mankind at large, exhorting us to count till twelve and to keep still while the count lasts. The poet reminds us that this one action of not doing anything for short duration will u break the barriers of language and geography and unite us in a silence that binds us to a higher purpose. The poet feels that these few moments of silence will save the earth of much damage and will help us to reflect on the impact of our deeds. The fishermen at sea and even those who constantly prepare for wars would for a moment be united in a brotherhood dedicated to a good cause , the betterment of the planet. The poet makes it clear that he is not advocating total inactivity because inactivity is even more dangerous. The poet says half jokingly, he wants no truck with death, he is not asking for total annihilation due to lack of positive action. He laments our lack of purpose , our solidarity to the preservation of the planet. If we do not unite ,we might just continue to expedite our own destruction . According to the poet , it is sad that man kind does not realize the harm its actions cause to its own survival . He hopes that we would learn a few lessons from the nature of earth , that of a seed etc which seem dormant yet is so full of life. The poet , does not insist nor preach , he just gives a suggestion for us to ponder on and moves away from the limelight.

The desire of the modern man for fast paced development has done much harm to the environment . Most of the so called development comes at a huge cost , of that of nature , its other inhabitants and men themselves.
Its time for us to ask ,development at what cost rather than seeking it blindly.

Questions & Answers

1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping quiet help us to achieve?

The act of counting twelve and keeping quiet will help us to reflect upon the repercussions of our actions in the name of the welfare of mankind. Not only that, this short duration of inactivity will save many lives and minimize the adverse impact of human activities on the planet.

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

No, the poet is not advocating total inactivity. Infact , he cautions that we should not misunderstand his message. He wants mankind to think about the negative impact his actions has upon the earth. He hopes that introspection on our part will help us to minimize rapid pace at which the planet is heading towards destruction or total annihilation.

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

The poet says that it is indeed sad that mankind does not realize the simple fact that by destroying nature , he is destroying himself. As a people , we are single minded in our resolve to progress to move on . The poet wants us to be single minded in our resolve to save earth as well.