Now We Will Count To Twelve

By Pablo Neruda

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 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 hands

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 nothing to do 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
And of threatening ourselves with death
Perhaps the earth can teach us
As when everything seems dead
And later proves to be alive

Now you will count to twelve
And you keep quiet and I will go