Text Book PDF – Keeping Quiet
Keeping Quiet – Translation
Keeping Quiet
Pablo Neruda
Now we will count to twelve
এতিয়া আমি বাৰলৈকে গণিম
and we will all keep still.
আৰু আমি সকলোয়ে একেবাৰে চুপ থাকিম।
For once on the face of the Earth
এই পৃথিৱীৰ ওপৰত এবাৰলৈ চাও,
let’s not speak in any language,
বলক, কোনো ভাষাতে কথা নকওঁ,
let’s stop for one second,
বলক এক চেকেণ্ডৰ বাবে থমকি থাকোঁ,
and not move our arms so much.
আৰু আমাৰ হাতবোৰো অধিক লৰচৰ নকৰো।
It would be an exotic moment
এয়া এটা আশ্চৰ্য্যজনক, বিৰল ক্ষণ হ’ব,
without rush, without engines,
য’ত নাথাকিব ব্যস্ততা, নাথাকিব ইঞ্জিনৰ গৰ্জন,
we would all be together
আমি সকলোয়ে একেলগ হৈ থাকিম
in a sudden strangeness.
হঠাত এটা অচিনাকী অনুভৱত।
Fisherman in the cold sea
ঠাণ্ডা সাগৰত থকা মাছমৰীয়া জনে
would not harm whales
তিমিক মাছক আঘাত নকৰিব,
and the man gathering salt
আৰু লৱণ সংগ্ৰহ কৰা মানুহজনে
would look at his hurt hands.
তেওঁৰ আঘাত হোৱা হাতবোৰ চাব,
Those who prepare green wars,
যিসকলে গ্ৰীণ যুদ্ধৰ বাবে সাজু হৈছে,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
গেছৰ সৈতে যুদ্ধ, জুইৰ সৈতে যুদ্ধ,
victory with no survivors,
বিজয় হয় যদিও কোনো জীয়াই নথাকে,
would put on clean clothes
তেওঁলোকে তেতিয়া চাফা কাপোৰ পিন্ধিব
and walk about with their brothers
আৰু নিজৰ ভাই-ভনী সকলৰ সৈতে খোজ কাঢ়িব
in the shade, doing nothing.
ছাঁত বহি থাকিব, একো নকৰাকৈ, শান্তত।
What I want should not be confused
মই যি ক’ব বিচাৰিছোঁ, তাক ভুলকৈ নুবুজিব
with total inactivity.
এইটো একেবাৰে অলসতাৰ কথা নহয়।
Life is what it is about;
মোৰ কথা হৈছে—জীয়াই থকাৰ বিষয়ে।
I want no truck with death.
মই মৃত্যুৰ সৈতে কোনো সম্পর্ক ৰাখিব নোখোজোঁ।
If we were not so single-minded
যদি আমি ইমানেই একেদিশে মন নধৰি থাকোঁ
about keeping our lives moving,
জীৱন সদায় আগুৱাই লৈ যোৱাৰ চিন্তাত,
and for once could do nothing,
আৰু এবাৰ যদি একেবাৰে কিবা নকৰোঁ,
perhaps a huge silence
তেতিয়া হয়তো এটা ডাঙৰ নিৰৱতা হব
might interrupt this sadness
এই দুখ-ব্যথাক অলপ থমকাব পাৰে
of never understanding ourselves
যি দুখ আমি নিজকে বুজি নোপোৱা দুখ,
and of threatening ourselves with death.
আৰু নিজকে ধ্বংস কৰি পেলোৱাৰ ভয়।
Perhaps the Earth can teach us
হয়তো পৃথিৱীয়েই আমাক শিক্ষা দিব পাৰে,
as when everything seems dead
যেতিয়া সকলো মৰাৰ দৰে যেন লাগে,
and later proves to be alive.
কিন্তু পিছত দেখা যায়—সেইবোৰো পুনৰ জীয়াই উঠে।
Now I’ll count up to twelve
এতিয়া মই বাৰটো গণিম
and you keep quiet and I will go.
আপুনি চুপ থাকক, আৰু মই যাম গৈ।
Summary of “Keeping Quiet”
In this poem, the poet asks all people in the world to stop and stay quiet for a short time. He says we should count to twelve and be still, without talking or moving. He wants us to stop our busy lives just for a moment and think peacefully.
The poet says this will be a special and strange moment, where everyone in the world will feel calm and together. People will not hurt animals or damage nature. For example, fishermen will not kill whales, and the man collecting salt will stop and look at his injured hands, maybe for the first time.
The poet also talks about people who are involved in wars and violence. He says they should stop fighting and live peacefully like brothers, just walking and doing nothing bad.
The poet does not mean we should be lazy or stop living. He says he is not talking about death. He just wants us to pause and think about our life. We are always in a hurry and forget to understand ourselves. This silence might help us feel less sad and help us know who we really are.
In the end, the poet says that nature (like Earth) teaches us. Even when things look dead (like trees in winter), they become alive again (like spring). So, from silence and stillness, new life and hope can come.
He finishes by saying, “Now I’ll count to twelve, and you keep quiet, and I will go.” He leaves us with the message to try silence and peace.
“Keeping Quiet”ৰ সাৰাংশ।
এই কবিতাটোত কবিয়ে পৃথিৱীৰ সকলো মানুহকে ৰৈ অলপ সময়ৰ বাবে মনে মনে থাকিবলৈ অনুৰোধ কৰিছে। তেওঁ কয় আমি বাৰলৈকে গণনা কৰি নিশ্চল হৈ থাকিব লাগে, কথা নক’লে বা লৰচৰ নকৰাকৈ। তেওঁ বিচাৰে আমি আমাৰ ব্যস্ত জীৱনটো মাত্ৰ এটা মুহূৰ্তৰ বাবে বন্ধ কৰি শান্তিৰে চিন্তা কৰোঁ।
কবিয়ে কৈছে যে এইটো এটা বিশেষ আৰু অদ্ভুত মুহূৰ্ত হ’ব, য’ত পৃথিৱীৰ সকলোৱে শান্ত আৰু একেলগে অনুভৱ কৰিব। মানুহে জীৱ-জন্তুৰ কোনো ক্ষতি নকৰে বা প্ৰকৃতিৰ ক্ষতি নকৰে। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে, মাছমৰীয়াসকলে তিমি মাৰিব নোৱাৰে, আৰু নিমখ সংগ্ৰহ কৰা মানুহজনে ৰৈ নিজৰ আঘাতপ্ৰাপ্ত হাত দুখনলৈ চাব, হয়তো প্ৰথমবাৰৰ বাবে।
যুদ্ধ আৰু হিংসাৰ লগত জড়িত মানুহৰ কথাও কবিয়ে কৈছে। তেওঁ কয় যে তেওঁলোকে যুঁজ বন্ধ কৰি ভাই-ভনীৰ দৰে শান্তিৰে জীয়াই থাকিব লাগে, কেৱল খোজ কাঢ়িব লাগে আৰু বেয়া একো নকৰিব লাগে।
কবিৰ অৰ্থ এইটো নহয় যে আমি এলেহুৱা হ’ব লাগে বা জীয়াই থকা বন্ধ কৰিব লাগে। তেওঁ কয় যে তেওঁ মৃত্যুৰ কথা কোৱা নাই। তেওঁ মাত্ৰ বিচাৰে আমি থমকি ৰৈ আমাৰ জীৱনৰ কথা চিন্তা কৰোঁ। আমি সদায় খৰখেদা কৰি নিজকে বুজিবলৈ পাহৰি যাওঁ। এই মৌনতাই হয়তো আমাক কম দুখ অনুভৱ কৰাত সহায় কৰিব আৰু আমি প্ৰকৃততে কোন সেইটো জানিবলৈ সহায় কৰিব।
শেষত কবিয়ে কৈছে যে প্ৰকৃতিয়ে (পৃথিৱীৰ দৰে) আমাক শিকাই। বস্তুবোৰ মৃত যেন লাগিলেও (শীতকালত গছৰ দৰে) পুনৰ সজীৱ হৈ উঠে (বসন্তৰ দৰে)। গতিকে, মৌনতা আৰু নিস্তব্ধতাৰ পৰা নতুন জীৱন আৰু আশা আহিব পাৰে।
তেওঁ শেষত এইদৰে কয়, “এতিয়া মই বাৰলৈকে গণনা কৰিম, আৰু তুমি মনে মনে থাকা, মই যাম।” তেওঁ আমাক এৰি থৈ যায় মৌনতা আৰু শান্তিৰ চেষ্টা কৰাৰ বাৰ্তা।
- What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Answer: Counting up to twelve and keeping still will help us stop talking and moving for some time. This will create a special and peaceful moment. In this moment, people will not fight, not hurt others or nature, and feel close to each other. It will help us to think deeply and understand ourselves. - Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Answer: No, the poet does not support total inactivity or death. He says clearly, “What I want should not be confused with total inactivity.” He also says, “I want no truck with death.” This means he wants us to take a short break from our busy life, not stop living. He wants us to live better, not die. - What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer: The poet talks about the sadness that comes when we do not understand ourselves. We are always busy and try to keep life moving fast. This makes us feel empty and unhappy. We also fight and harm ourselves. The poet says a big silence can stop this sadness for some time. - What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Answer: The poet gives the example of the Earth. He says sometimes the Earth looks like it is dead and quiet, but later it becomes alive again. This means stillness is not death. Like Earth, we too can become alive and peaceful after some quiet time.
MCQs from “Keeping Quiet”
- Who is the poet of “Keeping Quiet”?
A) William Wordsworth B) Pablo Neruda C) Robert Frost D) John Keats
Answer: B) Pablo Neruda - What does the poet ask us to do first?
A) Shout loudly B) Run away C) Count to twelve D) Write a poem
Answer: C) Count to twelve - What should we do after counting to twelve?
A) Jump B) Keep quiet C) Laugh D) Sing
Answer: B) Keep quiet - What does the poet say about language?
A) Speak in many languages B) Fight in language C) Do not speak in any language D) Learn new language
Answer: C) Do not speak in any language - What kind of moment does the poet call the silence?
A) Boring B) Exotic C) Usual D) Dangerous
Answer: B) Exotic - Who will not harm whales?
A) Drivers B) Farmers C) Fishermen D) Poets
Answer: C) Fishermen - Who will look at his hurt hands?
A) The shopkeeper B) The man gathering salt C) The dancer D) The soldier
Answer: B) The man gathering salt - What kind of wars are mentioned in the poem?
A) Green wars B) White wars C) Blue wars D) Silent wars
Answer: A) Green wars - What does “green wars” mean?
A) Wars for money B) Wars in gardens C) Wars harming nature D) Wars for water
Answer: C) Wars harming nature - What will the people who prepare wars do, according to the poet?
A) Run away B) Sleep C) Put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers D) Fight more
Answer: C) Put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers - What is the poet’s view about life?
A) Life is about fighting B) Life is about running C) Life is important D) Life is boring
Answer: C) Life is important - What does the poet not want to be confused with his message?
A) Singing B) Total inactivity C) Sleeping D) Talking
Answer: B) Total inactivity - What does “I want no truck with death” mean?
A) I want a truck B) I like death C) I do not support death D) I drive a truck
Answer: C) I do not support death - What do people usually do with their lives, according to the poet?
A) Keep it moving always B) Stop and think C) Sit quietly D) Play games
Answer: A) Keep it moving always - What can a huge silence do?
A) Make us sad B) Stop us from thinking C) Help us understand ourselves D) Make us angry
Answer: C) Help us understand ourselves - What kind of sadness is the poet talking about?
A) Sadness of not having food B) Sadness of not understanding ourselves C) Sadness of exams D) Sadness of speaking
Answer: B) Sadness of not understanding ourselves - What is the example from nature in the poem?
A) Waterfall B) River C) Earth D) Cloud
Answer: C) Earth - What does the Earth teach us?
A) To keep moving B) To always speak C) That stillness can bring life D) To fight wars
Answer: C) That stillness can bring life - When the Earth seems dead, what happens later?
A) It stays dead B) It burns C) It proves to be alive D) It disappears
Answer: C) It proves to be alive - What are the last words of the poet in the poem?
A) I will sleep B) You may go C) I will go D) Let’s talk
Answer: C) I will go
- What is the main idea of the poem “Keeping Quiet”? Explain in your own words.
Answer: The main idea of the poem is that we should take a short break from our busy life. The poet asks all people in the world to be quiet and still for some time. He says we should stop talking, moving, and working. In this quiet time, we can think about our life, understand ourselves, and feel peace. People will stop fighting, harming nature, and hurting others. The poet says this silence can help us become better human beings. He also says that this stillness is not about death. It is about living in a better way. - Why does the poet ask people to keep quiet and not speak in any language?
Answer: The poet asks people to be silent and not speak in any language because he wants everyone to feel united. Language often separates people. But silence can bring them together. When people are quiet, there is no argument or fight. Everyone becomes calm and peaceful. In this silence, people can understand each other without words. The poet wants to stop the noise of the world for a short time so that people can feel peace and unity. - How can keeping quiet help people and nature, according to the poem?
Answer: According to the poem, keeping quiet can help both people and nature. When people stop working for a moment, they stop harming nature. For example, the fisherman will not kill whales, and the man collecting salt will notice his injured hands. People who prepare wars will stop and walk peacefully. Nature will get a chance to rest, and people will also feel the calm. In this way, silence and stillness can protect both nature and human life. - What does the poet mean by “I want no truck with death”?
Answer: The poet says, “I want no truck with death” to make it clear that he is not asking people to become lazy or lifeless. He does not want people to stop living. He only wants them to take a small break from their busy life. He believes in life and living peacefully. The poet is against violence, war, and destruction. He says that silence is not about death—it is about finding peace and understanding life better. - How does the poet use nature to explain his message in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses the Earth as an example from nature. He says that sometimes the Earth looks dead, like during winter, but later it becomes alive again, like in spring. This shows that even when things are still and quiet, life can come back. In the same way, when people stop for a moment and stay quiet, they can feel peace and start fresh. Nature teaches us that silence is not the end—it can be the beginning of something new and beautiful.
Poetic Devices
- Repetition
Example: “Now we will count to twelve” (beginning) and “Now I’ll count up to twelve” (ending).
Explanation: The poet repeats this line at the start and end of the poem to create a full circle. It gives the poem structure and shows the importance of the action — pausing to think. It also gives the reader a calm, steady rhythm. - Alliteration
Example: “sudden strangeness,” “clean clothes,” “we would.”
Explanation: This is when the poet uses the same sound at the start of words close together. It gives the poem a musical sound and makes the lines easier to remember. - Symbolism
Example: “count to twelve,” “keep quiet,” “green wars,” “Earth.”
Explanation: These simple words stand for deeper meanings.
• “Twelve” stands for a full cycle (like 12 hours or 12 months).
• “Keeping quiet” means peace and thinking deeply.
• “Green wars” means harm to nature.
• “Earth” is shown as a teacher.
The poet uses these words to make us think beyond just the surface. - Imagery
Example: “Fisherman in the cold sea would not harm whales.”
Explanation: The poet uses words that create pictures in our mind. We can imagine the scene clearly. It helps us understand the idea better and feel the message more deeply. - Paradox
Example: “A huge silence might interrupt this sadness.”
Explanation: A paradox is when something sounds strange or opposite but has truth. Here, the poet says that silence — which is quiet — can break sadness, which is strong. It shows how powerful silence can be. - Personification
Example: “Perhaps the Earth can teach us.”
Explanation: The poet gives human qualities to the Earth by saying it can teach us. This helps readers feel a connection to nature, as if it’s a wise guide. - Enjambment
Explanation: This is when one line of the poem runs into the next without a full stop. It makes the poem flow naturally, like a conversation. The poet uses this to keep the mood gentle and smooth, not choppy. - Metaphor
Example: “Victory with no survivors.”
Explanation: This line is a metaphor showing that war destroys everyone. Even the winner loses something. The poet doesn’t say it directly, but compares war to an empty victory.
