Let's have the subject/object discussion up front: if we can't hear something does that mean the thing is silent? The faraway tree falling, star exploding, cat miaowing outside a double-glazed window, fool on the hill laughing his head off? No, it just means those soundwaves don't reach our ears (for reasons of logistics or physics). But lots of other sounds do, all the time. Even people who are profoundly deaf can apparently still hear something, low vibrations. And there is no such thing as a perfect vacuum.
If everything that exists were to stop existing, then theoretically there would be nothing and then nothing might be silent. How's that for a tease of a paradox? As curious to contemplate as the Zen concept of the sound of one hand clapping. Ah yes, contemplation...
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| the sound of one hand clapping |
You may be thinking this is all semantics, and that it's fair to call things silent if we cannot detect the sounds they make: flowers growing, snowflakes falling, statues as they warm and cool, mute swans and witnesses. But silence per se? No, for we can always hear something.
Even those relatively peaceful moments of stillness we call 'quiet' are actually populated by subtle sounds which can be hard to detect or are more typically easily ignored - a slight breeze, a mechanical whirr, a structural creak, the rustle of clothing, blood circulating, the music of the spheres 😉
Having read thus far you may possibly opine that I'm being unduly antagonistic in arguing my point, noisy in fact. You might be inferring that lockdown has been going on a little too long. You could even be saying (silently) to yourselves "Come on Saturday blogger, give it a rest"...
This latest poem was the inspiration of a quiet moment. Concentrate. Take as long as you like:
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| the rest is... |
This latest poem was the inspiration of a quiet moment. Concentrate. Take as long as you like:
Can You Hear It?
silence
silence
silence
silence
silence
still silence
that's all ffoollk.
Thanks for listening, S ;-)
26 comments:
Ha ha la! Clever clogs.
As always, good to read. Loved the poem. I've learnt it by heart!
Excellent Steve, as original and surprising as ever. I'll chew that one over (silently). By the way, I loves the phrase 'the universe is a noise bomb'. 👏
Magic! You said it all. The rest is...
Good to see your musical nod to the Bard :)
I love it Steve. I've had a slight buzzing in my ears for a couple of years now - never silence.
👍
You scamp (LOL). From your poem I took bird twitter, a clock ticking, a plane droning, a tap dripping and car doors closing. 😃
That was fun Steve...but two weeks now without a 'proper' new poem. Did you hit the buffers after Zen Underground???
Conceptually witty blogging. What's the opposite of concrete poetry? Abstract? Hollow? Congratulations on your hollow poem. When will you be performing it? :D
You brought a smile to my Monday. Bless you.
I have no words...😂
Well that was a tease, but a thought-provoking one :)
Yes, it's an interesting word, silence, and surprisingly versatile. So is it a fallacy them, that in space no one can hear you scream?
I love your sense of humor and way with words :)
I've just read and enjoyed the blog about John Cage and his piece of silent music - and here you are doing the same with poetry in more tongue-in-cheek fashion.
I don't think the article was antagonistic. Perfectly acceptable piece of logic. To think about quiet. Mind you the poem was deafening.
I loved the graphic of all those musical rests - assume they are equivalents in notation (i.e. all 4-beat rests)? Also your poetic list of quite noises in the stillness :)
Very nicely done Steve. Some moment of inspiration that! 😂
Boom! Boom!
Very good Steve :)
Thanks for yr musings. Most welcome they are indeed! LOVE the ending!
We're in the playoffs buddy. Not a chance of silence between now and then. Up the Pool!
Provocative yes, antagonistic no. I love your way with words, sense of humour, and the way you make your readers think differently about the obvious.
Well done Steve. I can imagine it's not easy finding something interesting and original to say every Saturday, but you keep on entertaining and surprising. This was very cleverly done and had me smiling throughout :)
That was unexpected! Amusing and thought-provoking. 👍
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