| Keeping Quiet |
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Now we will count to twelve And we will all keep still. For once on the face of the earth Lets not speak in any language Lets stop for one second And not move our arms so much. 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 hangs 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 What I want should not be confused With total inactivity. 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 Of threatening ourselves with death Perhaps the earth could teach us As when everything seems dead And later proves to be alive. Now I will count to twelve And you will keep quiet, and I will go. Pablo Neruda
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Holding my daughter in my arms is no longer just an action, it is me being present with my daughter, feeling the power of my love for her, smelling her presence in my arms and appreciating all she has brought into my life. |
