Silence is the element br In which great things fashion themselves. br br The words of the prophets br Are written on the subway walls br And tenement halls br And whispered in the sounds of silence. br br Silence saved the man the thugs came for, br But the screaming fellow took the bullets br Silence a remedy for harm br Life is a pregnant silence. br Light silence, dark speech. br br Stones are mute teachers; br They silence the observer, br And the most valuable lesson br We learn from them we cannot communicate br br Silence alone is respectable and respected.