Tasting an Olive

Aged 7 and he, our teacher, had been abroad to the Holy Land,

Amongst the olive groves he told us he had stayed.

And then, to our delight he brought us

A bowl of olives he had saved.

They sat there green and shining, like the branch in Jesus' Hand

Amongst the olive groves of Jacob as he prayed.

And then to our delight he let us

See the fruit that he had saved.

As one we crowded round him: he the farmer, we his hands.

One by one we took an olive, to be savoured,

And then to our delight he bade us

Taste the fruit that he had saved.

With bitter skin and salty flesh, Of dusty fields and people tanned,

That first olive, strangely flavoured.

To our delight there he woke us

With the fruit that he had saved.