fortune teller

He puts up his palm reader advertising placard facing the road.

and sits along the sidewalk, under a Bodhi tree, near Pashupatinath.

A rope of Rudraksha bead dangles around his neck and

a Palm reading book lay open by his side.

Grey hairs, clear lines, and folds of his skin, manifest years

that he has carried in his body.

He wears a vertical white mark on his forehead to ward off evil.

Near the tree, he lit a couple of smoldering incense and sticks ‘em in a cow dung.

And with hopeful eyes, he waits for customers.

People come by and sit beside him, under the tree,

outstretching their hands & palms facing up towards him.

He lifts his brow lowering his gaze down to the palm through his old eye glasses.

Sometimes he keeps a Parrot in a cage by his side,

Parrot Astrology Fortune Teller, what he calls it.

He puts a price tag for his time and effort.

Every morning he comes and sits on the same spot.

He is good at convincing people and he does it every day.

Maybe some are skeptic but he seems to satisfy most of them.

Whatever it is, he seems to have some understading  of celestial bodies

having influence on human affairs and the natural world.

Sometimes, when I am going through hard times,

 I remember him.