Straight from the tree
the olive is the bitterest thing
in all the earth.
I know this true.
once, long ago
in a grove of gesturing trees
I came on one
burdened with olives
gleaming and dropping in the sun.
All around, the ground
was slippery windfall-
slippery like a riverbed filled with stones
grasses grew
amongst the fallen-down fruit.
White stones peeped through the grass.
Bending down
I scooped one up-
gravely admired it,
Buffed it on my shirttail
rashly bit into it-
It was bitter, bitter!
The juice burned my tongue.
Bitterer than mustard, it was,
Bitterer than young almond
Bitterer than...
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