I hear no voices when I should
Only sighs of vain regrets
Empty speeches about life
Wizened men in their dark overcoats
Shivering to the cold of the breeze
I hear no voices from the young
Cinema, sex, cricket and Coke
That’s much of their demarcation
If you’ve had an au courant haircut,
You’ve achieved enlightenment!
I hear no voices when I could
I shut myself in a box
And tossed it in the balmy sun
I grew upon the hill like the heath
To be forgotten till we meet
I hear no voices when I’m done
All wrapped up in the white shroud
Bearded, brown and not a crown
But my biography in my right hand*
To testify when I’m on the stand
I hear no voices when I should
The cries of the famished and wretched
I must drop my loveliest coin
That its patina might reflect
The misplaced smile of the orphan

*According to Islam, Almighty Allah has appointed angels over every human being who record the words and deeds of each of us. On the Day of Judgment, people who were pious and did good works during their lifetime will receive their books in their right hand. They will be admitted to Paradise.