Tree

I remember

Back in the decade of

Fading youth

Of quiet love and

Busy roads

I'd exit my train at

The stroke of noon

Just around the corner,

You'd stand

Ever there, ever alive

With your arms wide

Open

In a majestic tenderness

As if you were an old pal

Of the universe.

You'd paint the sky in

Green and yellow

And take the help of the

Monsoon breeze

To whisper your secrets

To me.

I overwhelmed by the

New me, the dying me,

The changing me,

Would nod at the tobacco seller

Under your shade

And play peek-a-boo

With the thundering sky,

Blue sky,

Rainbow sky,

From between your leaves.

It was raining,

When did I saw you last?

The sky, aside from dark green

Was silver

With the spirits of the fallen leaves.