Ode to the Olive

The common olive:
Olea europaea

Branch of Champions
Flag of Conquerors
Symbol of Peace
Hero of the Mediterranean

So diminutive and yet so noble
Arrayed in greens and purple blacks
Hard stone anchoring its core
Dripping from gnarled trees
As jewels of dew at first light
Entwined by leaves of burnished silver

Plucked laboriously, lovingly by
Thick tanned leather hands
To be pressed, rock upon rock
Until they shed their golden tears
Whereupon it is bottled greedily
And yet with gratitude
To fuel the society of Men

Lubricating the gears of ancient war
Fortifying the hearts of the People
Kissing their daily bread
The fruit of their lands
Embodying a living tradition

Wrestlers slathered in oil
Undertake slippery combat
Mortal against Mortal
Paying their tribute to Athena
And Aristaeus both

This ovoid wonder
Crucible of civilization
Balm of Philosophers
Honored down through the ages

Grows quietly in my Californian backyard

Perhaps aware of its history and Virtue,
Or perhaps not.