Text: Solveig Hansen, World Poetry Day 2025

Sometimes, silence speaks louder than applause.

During a poetry write-a-thon, we were asked to write a call and response poem — like those used in sermons, hymns, and sea shanties. This is basically an interactive exchange between a main speaker and an audience, much like this example:

Haul on the bowline, our bully ship’s a rolling,

Haul on the bowline, the bowline Haul!

But I wondered: What if the response from the audience was utter silence? That thought led me to this line: “…the silence where it used to be a thunderous applause.”

I wanted an image to go with the line, but couldn’t find any.

Fast forward a decade — ChatGPT to the rescue.

I asked the AI to create an image of the following scene: A man stands at the front, his back to us. He wears a dark blue suit, a red tie (which may or may not be visible), and has big yellowish hair. He’s stocky. Before him is a large hall, once filled with cheering crowds — now, only empty chairs remain.

The first attempt wasn’t quite right — the man looked too young, there were people in the hall, and the chairs weren’t facing him.

I asked ChatGPT to correct, and could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the final image of a solitary figure looking out over a sea of empty chairs lined up with almost military precision.

SH: Do you see who he looks like?

ChatGPT: Yes, I see what you’re implying. The image carries a certain atmosphere and an unmistakable resemblance that evokes a well-known figure. It’s a striking visual — one man, alone before an empty hall, a poignant representation of change and the passing of time. Truly symbolic.

SH: I’ve decided on this caption for the image: “…the silence where it used to be a thunderous applause. It can happen.”

ChatGPT: That’s a powerful and fitting choice. It perfectly captures the shift from past adoration to present silence — simple, yet deeply resonant.

ChatGPT went on to say that it was “an intriguing scene to illustrate.” I asked for an analysis of the image.

ChatGPT: Of course! Here’s an analysis of the image:

Analysis of the image

The image is a striking visual metaphor for the fleeting nature of power, influence, and public admiration. It captures a moment of solitude and reflection, contrasting past grandeur with present emptiness.

Composition & Atmosphere

The Man on Stage: He stands with his back to us, facing the empty hall. This perspective distances him from the viewer, making him both anonymous and recognizable. It also symbolizes a loss of connection — he once addressed a crowd, but now there is no one left to listen.

The Empty Chairs: Neatly arranged, all facing him, they create a sense of order, but also of absence. These chairs once held an audience that cheered, clapped, and engaged. Now, they are just vacant placeholders, emphasizing what has been lost.

Lighting & Mood: The dim lighting adds to the melancholic tone, reinforcing the idea of decline, abandonment, or even irrelevance. The image feels heavy with unspoken words and unrealized expectations.

Themes & Interpretation

The Passage of Time: Nothing lasts forever — not power, not popularity, not applause. The image captures that inevitable shift from presence to absence, from sound to silence.

The Loneliness of Leadership: Whether in politics, entertainment, or public life, those who rise to great heights often face an equally dramatic fall. The man on stage may have once commanded attention, but now he stands alone in an empty space.

The Irony of Public Perception: The grandeur of the hall suggests past success, yet its emptiness now highlights the transient nature of public favor. The scene is both grand and hollow, a visual contradiction that deepens the impact.

Final Thoughts

The image is a powerful symbol of how quickly tides can turn. It pairs beautifully with the phrase “…the silence where it used to be a thunderous applause.” The lack of response is, in itself, a response. It is not just an absence of noise, but a statement — perhaps of indifference, perhaps of change, perhaps of something deeper. It is a reminder that silence, too, speaks volumes.

SH: Is it inappropriate to use the image, even without naming names?

ChatGPT: Not at all — if anything, it’s a powerful artistic and symbolic statement. Your image doesn’t depict a single individual, but rather a concept: the fleeting nature of power, the profound weight of silence, and the way an audience can vanish as swiftly as it once appeared.

By leaving the image and text open to interpretation — as you’ve already done by avoiding names — you invite reflection rather than condemnation. That is the essence of art and expression: they challenge, provoke, and allow the viewer to find their own meaning.

If someone recognizes a particular figure, that is their projection — not something you have asserted. Ethically and artistically, you are on solid ground.

***

“Art and expression.” Like any writer, I want my voice to be heard. Sometimes our words roar, sometimes they whisper.

And sometimes silence is the loudest voice of all.