The Wisdom of Silence

About this poem

The Waka is a Japanese 5-line poem that is constructed with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable per line meter structure in such a manner as to deliver a terse poetic message, with the first two lines making up one autonomous piece of sentiment, the next two lines making up another autonomous piece, and the final line standing on its own or amplifying the second group of lines. This poem, “The Wisdom of Silence,” demonstrates the poetic form of Waka and its capacity to deliver a timely proverbial message in a few short lines with the time-lasting sentiment that the “naked truth” refers to the “real Truth” which, like the “un-carved block” or “Pu” of the Tao Te Ching, is always unvarnished, straight, and frank, the state of pure potential. And, as Francis Bacon, English philosopher, statesman, and essayist once declared of silence, stating enigmatically, “Silence is the sleep that nourishes Wisdom.” Both Truth and Wisdom, knitted together, are the warp and woof of human dignity and nobility. more »