Of Silence

and in the naked light i saw

ten thousand people, maybe more

people talking without speaking

people hearing without listening

people writing songs that voices never share

and no one dare

disturb the sound of silence

"fools" said i, "you do not know

silence like a cancer grows"

"hear my words that i might teach you

take my arms that i might reach you"

but my words like silent raindrops fell

and echoed in the wells of silence

and the people bowed and prayed

to the neon god they made

and the sign flashed out its warning

in the words that it was forming

and the signs said:

the words of the prophets

are written on the subway walls

and tenement halls

and whisper'd in the sound of silence