let us now praise the peace
after Pablo Neruda
let us sit
without movement, without words
harmless
not trampling the ant
or butchering the steer
neither selling nor buying
no birthing, no dying
fisherfolk transfixed above the wave
carpenters silent by the bench
. . . . . poet
lay down your pen
let every hand be still ~
slow the racing heart,
the speed-demon mind
let us now praise the peace
” . . . we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.” Pablo Neruda, “Keeping Quiet“
© 2015, poem and photograph, Jamie Dedes, All rights reserved