The Sound Of Silence
Isn’t there a paradox in the sentence right there? Silence is usually meant to be a derivative of a state of mind where one doesn’t speak, yet here I am talking about the sound of silence. Actually, I am sure not many of you would be startled at the headline; thanks to Simon and Garfunkel for that. Everytime I get an opportunity to tune into their “Within the sound of silence” it’s almost like I am transcended to an entirely different plane. And, it takes myself a long time to descend from there. I’d agree that some part of it is voluntary too, as I wouldn’t want to descend.
Silence — the word and its essence has been very dear to me. Now, in my case I’d like to state that I’ve always viewed and counted silence as never having a derogatory effect. Even though a lotta times those around me hold the view that it works the other way round, I have chosen to operate from my peaceful state of mind. Like when you choose to be silent deliberately, oftentimes it exudes the view that you are striving to be elusive, whereas in my case I can just say that I am trying to be myself.
One of my favourite poets of all times Robert Frost said something like this “Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.” What a profound thought right there! Who on earth could have imagined someone to write something this intense, one that gets you to ponder over and over again? It was 7 years back when I came across this proverb and I have been awestruck by it ever since.
Sometimes I wonder which half do I belong to? Do I classify myself as one that weaves dreams, gives them shape and when it’s time fumbles and not talk about it, or do I see myself exceedingly engrossed in being silent and keep on saying it? Perhaps the latter? Am I thus engaging in some sort of tomfoolery, mollycoddling myself? Pretending to be wearing an opaque glass that doesn’t showcase the naked realities on earth? Oh no, no. I am aware, aware of everything surrounding, maybe knowing a bit more than ordinary mortals. Yet I choose to remain silent and just let myself loose dancing to the tunes of its melodious sound…
It does feel liberating. Sometimes my mind intends to ask — Is this what is meant by letting go? I answer “Again, I don’t know.” But, letting be perhaps.
Can this be harmful to society? Hmm, maybe. But once you do get to hear the sound of silence in its truest form, when you’ve succeeded in transcending yourself high up at that plane, finally addressing this void in you, would you at all want to descend from there, or you would want to immerse yourself deep down in your newly found glory?
