Q: Several poems in this collection speak to a desire for silence—an even bigger appetite for it than the speaker originally had thought was needed. How much silence do you usually need to write, and how do you get it?
JH: I need more and more silence, it feels. Poems don’t leap into my mind when I’m distracted, turned outward, with other people, listening to music. It’s more for me as with going into a forest: if you sit quietly for a long time, the life around you emerges. As the world grows ever more clamorous, my hunger for silence steepens. I unplug the landline.
~ Jane Hirshfield, from Of Amplitude There Is No Scraping Bottom: An Interview with Jane Hirshfield (Tin House, March 15, 2016)
Notes:
- Quotes: Thank you Karl Duffy @ Mindfulbalance
- Photo: Barbara with Pathway (March 4, 2017 in Koluszki, Lodz, Poland)
Just unplug all of it. There’s so much to hear in those silences.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes.,,,
LikeLike
Silence is a must for me, when it comes to writing, or at least silence from human noise. Such sounds as birdsong, the wind in the trees, and the sea or a flowing river are all most acceptable though, and not a distraction at all. So yes, I agree with Jane Hirshfield completely 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see that. Odd, though, I don’t have this need for total silence but then again, unlike you, and Hirshfield, I’m not a published writer, or anywhere close.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I expect you’re used to shutting out noise in your high-powered workplace. I’ve fallen out of practice with that, after so many years away from having what people would consider a “proper” job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. Maybe Sarah. Maybe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“In the very steep valleys of the past,
And before any human had come out of the womb of earth.
Silence found its only delight sitting under the moonlight,
To become one with its silver stillness.
One night, the moon got tired of Silence.
The moon picked a rosy star from the sky and named it Beauty.
The moon disolved Beauty
in a cup made of Light
and gave it, a wine, to Silence.
Hoping Silence would get intoxicated
and finally talk.
When Silence got intoxicated
He got up in stillness
And went to his bed
Where his wife was waiting.
His wife was Word.
That night
Silence and Word made love
And Poetry was born.
If your heart worships the glory of Silence
And your soul quivers with the pulse of words.
If your eyes tear at the power of Beauty.
Here is my poetry.
I share it with you.
~ Anis Ben Ammar
Tunisian poet and author.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Beautiful. Esp “And your soul quivers with the pulse of words.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Translation needs revision.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who better than you to get after that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not enough silence. To get my 2 weeks off coming up I’m working 9 days in a row. 4 more days to go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sherpa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sawsan, you are amazing, a veritable wellspring of gorgeous quotes and shimmering prose. This is lovely. (And good luck plowing through those last 4 days…)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Anis and I went to college together and I never knew he was an amazing writer. He kept to himself. Thank you Laurie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, that’s wonderful to have that personal connection, Sawsan. Clearly a gifted fellow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Creativity usually comes without a soundtrack.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
i need some noise around me when writing, the music of life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too Beth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Silence is good, but white noise is fine. It’s discernible music and rhythm that’s infuriating and distracting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So agree with that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unplugging the landline…that’s what I try to do every weekend, to recharge my batteries and be ready to write again on Monday. Imperative.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And you do it so well…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, thx DK!
LikeLike
The sound of silence resonates deeply within me, David. Cher xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Simpatico Cher… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, David! 🙂 xo
LikeLike
Exactly. Silence. No distractions, except maybe the sound of the wind. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
And what a beautiful sound that is.
LikeLiked by 1 person