10 O’Clock and all is well,

Except the man atop the tower

His dying words, go ignored and unheard

As the townsfolk tune out the static.

11 O’Clock and all is well,

Except atop the tower

No whispers or screams, nor the things in between

Which we measure in little green bars.

12 O’Clock and all is well,

Especially around the tower

In the aftermath of Babel’s collapse

We struggle to find our language

And the plastic boxes plugged in our ears

Finally go silent…