The Palm Tree (part-2)

Even if I would have heard
I wouldn't have understood.....
And it seemed the old palm knew that...
He knew that I was innocent......
And too young to fathom the mysteries of his life.
yes he knew, he could see it in my eyes.

I observe the uneven carpet of roofs
stretching between the palm and me.
I see people walking on the narrow streets,
Women chatting with excited expressions on their faces
about something...something I am ignorant of.
I watch all these people from my little window.

I wonder what life is like,
in this sea of shabby houses.
I want to know how it feels,
to walk hurriedly through the paths between the walls,
and sit amongst the gossiping women dressed in sarees.
I want to know their stories, their lives.

I glance at the palm tree,
and he moves gently, teasing me,
Boasting because he knows everything...
Everything that goes on inside those little red-roofed houses.
Perhaps he knows much more,
For he is very old.