Imagine you are John Keats, the poet of A Thing of Beauty. What advice might you offer to Pablo Neruda, the poet of Keeping Quiet, in the context of his desire for silence and introspection, as displayed in the given lines 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 a second, and not move our arms so much. Pen down your advice, in a letter to Neruda. 

You may begin this way: Dear Pablo, I recently read your poem, “Keeping Quiet,” and… 

You may end this way: I hope this advice is helpful to you. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to support you. Yours sincerely, John Keats

Answer as written by the student:

Dear Pablo,

I recently read your poem, “Keeping Quiet,” and I was impressed by your vision of silence and introspection. I admire your courage and skill in expressing your desire for peace and harmony in a world full of violence and chaos. I also understand the need and the value of keeping quiet and listening to one’s inner voice.

As a fellow poet and a lover of beauty, I would like to offer you some advice on how to cultivate and appreciate the silence that you seek. I hope this advice is helpful to you.

• First of all, do not let the noise and distractions of the world drown out your poetic voice . You have a unique and powerful voice that deserves to be heard and celebrated. You have the power to create beautiful and meaningful poems that can inspire and enlighten others. Do not let anyone or anything silence you or your poetry.
• Second, do not be afraid to explore the beauty and mystery of nature and art. You are not alone in your quest for silence and introspection. There are many things of beauty that can offer you joy and consolation, even in the darkest times. You can discover new sources of beauty and inspiration in the sun, the moon, the trees, the flowers, the rills, the musk-rose blooms, and all the lovely tales that we have heard or read1.
• Third, do not lose hope for a better future. Your poem shows that you have a vision of a world where everyone keeps quiet for a moment and feels a bond of brotherhood with each other, regardless of their differences. You can work towards making that vision a reality by sharing your poetry and your message with others, and by joining forces with other poets and peace-makers.

I hope this advice is helpful to you. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to support you.

Yours sincerely, John Keats

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• The answer begins with a salutation to the recipient, Pablo Neruda, followed by an introduction that states the purpose of the letter: to offer advice in the context of his poem “Keeping Quiet”.
• The answer then provides three pieces of advice, each in a separate paragraph, using bullet points for clarity and skimmability.
• The first piece of advice is to not let the noise and distractions of the world drown out his poetic voice , and to assert his artistic voice and vision. This is based on the lines from his poem that suggest that he wants to keep quiet and stay still for a moment, away from the hustle and bustle of life.
• The second piece of advice is to not be afraid to explore the beauty and mystery of nature and art , and to find joy and consolation in them. This is based on the lines from my poem “A Thing of Beauty” that describe various things of beauty that can offer us happiness.
• The third piece of advice is to not lose hope for a better future, and to work towards making his vision of peace and harmony a reality. This is based on the lines from his poem that show his desire for a moment of silence where everyone feels a bond of brotherhood with each other.
• The answer ends with a conclusion that expresses hope that the advice is helpful, and offers further support if needed. It also includes a signature with my name, John Keats.