The Sound of Silence: A Speaker's Journey Through Haiku

I love AI, and I regularly use a variety of LLMs for a number of tasks. Today, as it’s Saturday, I was having a fun conversation with ChatGPT about poetry and, in particular, exploring Haiku. This post is a result of that conversation, highlighting, through this interesting poetic medium, the importance of silence and pauses in speaking. I hope you enjoy.

Public speaking is often thought of as an art of words - but those of us who do it professionally know it's just as much about the spaces between the words. The pauses. The hush. The moments where nothing is said, yet everything is felt. This is the world of silence.

And what better form to honour silence than the haiku?

What is Haiku?

Haiku is a traditional Japanese form of poetry, usually capturing a fleeting moment in nature. In its English adaptation, it follows a three-line structure with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5. Though small in size, haiku carries enormous emotional weight. Each one is a snapshot - brief, precise, and evocative.

Haiku is not a poem of explanation. It doesn't argue, persuade, or instruct. It simply offers. It presents a moment and invites you to step into it.

That’s what makes haiku the perfect form to explore silence in public speaking. Each of the poems below reflects a real and recognisable moment - those times when silence isn't empty, but electric.

The Opening Silence: That Moment Before You Begin

Gaze steadies the room
stillness speaks before the voice
all hearts tune to hear

The Pregnant Pause: Just Before the Key Message Lands

One breath before truth
a pause charged with quiet weight
then the message drops

After the Bombshell: When the Room Can't Quite Breathe

Words fall like a stone
no one dares to break the hush
what was said still burns

The End of the Story: When the Silence Says 'Remember'

The tale is now told
but silence holds the echoes
their minds fill with you

The Full Stop: Pausing for Punctuation, Not Effect

Voice flows, then it rests
the pause, a perfect full stop
meaning breathes again

Before You Speak: Backstage Nerves and Breath-Holding

Backstage breath held tight
a hush louder than the crowd
feet inch toward light

Let the Laughter Settle: Holding the Room Gently

Laughter crests, then fades
the pause is where joy still hums
and words wait their turn

When You Blank: That Unexpected Fog

Mind stumbles mid-step
blankness blooms like winter fog
breathe—and it will pass

When They're Thinking: Silence as a Sign of Engagement

They stare, heads tilted
thoughts swirl through the silent space
your words lit a fuse

Closing the Speech: Bowing into the Stillness

No more words to give
just a bow into stillness
and a room that feels

Cameras Off: Speaking Into the Void

Blank boxes staring
no nods or smiles, just silence
note to self: not funny

Scrolling the Chat: The Speaker's Modern Pause

A glance to the side
scrolling through the silent stream
*then — "Ah, great question."

Breakout Room Dread: Awkward Digital Quiet

"Join the room," it says
four strangers, four silent screens
one cough starts it off

The Uncertain Ending: Was That Applause or Just Lag?

I finish my thought
the silence stretches too long
*then someone unmutes: "Wow."

After They Leave: Post-Zoom Loneliness

Click—and they are gone
no line for a handshake now
just me and the void

The Tough Question: When Silence Is the Answer

A voice cuts the air
"What would you do in my shoes?"
The room holds its breath

The Heckler: When the Room Tenses

One loud voice breaks in
laughter or challenge—unsure
stillness sharp as knives

No One Answers: The Question That Falls Flat

I asked for a thought
but silence takes up the mic
they wait—or withdraw

The Laugh That Never Came: When Humour Misfires

Built the line with care
delivered the beat—and then…
I died in that pause

The Stumble: When the Audience Waits With You

Tongue betrays the mind
a stammer, then sudden hush
*someone mouths, "You've got this."

Embracing Silence as a Tool

Too many speakers try to fill the silence. But the most powerful ones learn to wield it. Each pause is a choice. A moment to connect. To let your message settle. To hold the audience, not just with your voice, but with your presence.

Let the silence speak with you. Let the pause become part of your power.

And perhaps, just perhaps, let your speech include a haiku.

If you'd like help embracing the power of silence and shaping a talk that truly connects, I offer one-to-one coaching and keynote talks on public speaking that go beyond technique, helping you find your voice, your story, and your presence. Let's craft a speech the world won't forget.