Hopes that kill
To the children in the streets of Karachi
Listen, for I have no one who will
Like I heard one of you crying last night
Was missing or waiting for her mother's sight
As I saw that lady on my way back home
Torn clothes she wore, still dreaming of a dome
“Was it their choice, or fate deceived?”
Hush, my kids, hush—it’s all I have, so eat”
She says, a loaf of bread and a rotten apple
Thank God, at least you've found some crapple
I heard the poor starved to death, I guess
Rocks in stomachs, knotted with stress
I saw you, I see you now and so I will
For I have nothing to give, nothing that’ll kill
I am empty pockets, but full of hopes
These are slow venoms, like a blind one gropes
The corner, the junctions, the streets, the alleys
Neither kith nor kin, no villains, no pallies
I am empty pockets, but full of hopes
That'll kill you slowly like hanged by ropes.