Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Silence
With so many of us talking at once,
I wonder how there can be silence at all.
Or is silence the sum total of sound,
An infinite roar, a vessel rimmed with stars?
From Songs and Letters, originally published January 27, 2008.
Library Notes: The Complete Poetical Works of Lord Byron
Update:
In the Forum: “The Pig’s Tale.”
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6 comments:
Sort of like noise cancellation, only as a totality of all voices over all time?
Really liked this one, William - thanks.
Peter G.
the noise of air-con units in a hot city... the noise was deafening making me clostrophobic and craving for air. over a week later, i have to listen to hear it... have we become desensitized to more than we should be?
The Sacred Om.
Thanks, Peter. Could be. Although that does sound a bit like an adjustment on an old TV set.
To keep from being overwhelmed, Rahina, I think we’re programmed to shut out stimuli. Of course that can work against us as well. For instance, I’ve been talking to myself so long I no longer hear it, but others do, and they realize what a monotonous fool I am.
Which leads us, Gerry, to the Profane Om.
It is all silence, once you stop listening. I think it is “An infinite roar” some have stopped hearing.
Yes. And then there is the fear of silence, drowned out by the noise in our heads.
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