The Olive Tree

A fool sat beneath an olive tree

And a wondrous thought had he

So he rose and he told it to the sky

And where was I?

Behind the tree

I overheard his reverie

"Why be content with an olive

When you could have the tree

Why be content to be nothing

When there's nothing you couldn't be

Why be contented with one olive tree

When you could have a whole olive grove

Why be content with a grove

When you could have the world?"

The fool stood beneath the olive tree

"What a wondrous thought," said he

"But alas, it is very, very deep!"

And then he yawned

And went to sleep

Because you see, he was a fool!

"Why be content with an olive

When you could have the tree"

That which has lulled you to sleep, fool

Has awakened me!

Why should I sigh that my lot is my lot

That I can't make anything more

When this is a lie

An excuse for a fool to snore!

I walked from behind the olive tree

With a wondrous change in me

For I walked, with my eye upon a star

If you have heard, and do not heed

There is a word for what you are

And oh, my friend

The word is "fool!"