Project Noon

by Ankur Barua

O my Lord –
When I see waves of traffic on Piccadilly
Fearfully my heart pours out all its misery
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

I went shopping to Sainsbury’s but they don’t anymore have a 2-for-1 deal
I thought I would eat a fish but forgot to order chips for a complete meal
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

I say: “how are you?” to a mate and he just replies: “not too bad”
On this frosty December morning that just makes me feel so sad
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

After another tiresome day at work I go looking for a good curry
At the gleaming new Indian restaurant run by an old Bangladeshi
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

On my pilgrimage for a spot of sunshine amidst the incessant rain
Where is that elusive salvation you promised through all my pain?
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

In matters relating to the bank I promise I shall take no interest
And yet in becoming more British all my time I must now invest
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

You raised us out of the desert and placed us on this sceptred island
In all the signs across the northern sky I now discern your subtle hand
O Allah – take me across to the minaret at East Putney.

Ankur Barua is University Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies at Cambridge University. He read Theology and Religious Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge. His primary research interests are Vedantic Hindu philosophical theology and Indo-Islamic styles of sociality.