Olive Tree

There wasn’t any way I could have boiled
and drunk yesterday’s cup of espresso or 
moved the olive tree past the ridge or make 
the sky forever purple, or perch with the 
sparrows and blue jays on an oak tree branch.
      There wasn’t any way I could have 
made the Pontiac go any faster or upside 
down or sideways while I sped down the
highway trying to escape my father. There 
were wars all over the world then, while I 
tried to look as beautiful as possible for a date
and walked down on the beach smelling the 
sand and feeling the soft spray of foam from 
an old fishing boat going by.
     There wasn’t any way I could cut my 
tongue out or replace it with a hand full of
lilies or olive leaves. I couldn't afford to listen 
to my friends anymore, as I hid in Long Beach, 
California and stay there at the thought of being
alive among the oranges and lemons and the 
sparrows with their infinitesimal red and brown
stripped lives and an occasional hummingbird.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Sweetheart Avatar
August 7, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Congrats Julie on having two entries make it to first round competition.. good luck luv..
Brown Avatar
June 23, 2011 at 7:08 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved poetry being featured this week Julie. Love, Carol
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Congrats Julie on the featuring of "Olive Tree." Vince
Brown Avatar
March 17, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Congratulations Julie on your win in the "Maverick Free Verse" contest sponsored by John Moses Freeman. Love, Carol
Devonshire Avatar
March 17, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Julie, Congratulations on your win in the contest. Love, Carolyn
Parker Avatar
March 17, 2011 at 6:44 AM
Congratulations on your well-deserved win! A nice, thought-provoking opine!
Mannan Avatar
March 17, 2011 at 4:29 AM
Super congrats for this lovely write dear friend.
Sweetheart Avatar
March 16, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Congrats Julie on your super win in the Maverick Free Verse contest luv.. enjoy your top ten success with luv..
Horsman Avatar
March 16, 2011 at 7:49 PM
Wow Julie this is wonderful, pleased it finished so high in John's contest. awesome. Harry
Mehta Avatar
March 16, 2011 at 6:11 PM
Congratulations on the third place win in the contest of john, julie
Freeman Avatar
March 16, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Another beautiful and inspiring piece....Olive Branch...Unique write! Bravo! Congratulations Julie on your poem's worthy honor in third place. Agape, Moses
Devonshire Avatar
March 15, 2011 at 4:53 AM
There are times when we simply cannot change our lives and are left to cope with unpleasant circumstances, Julie. Even the thought of making changes can pull us further into seclusion. A thought-provoking poem! Love, Carolyn
Mehta Avatar
March 11, 2011 at 5:56 PM
Thanks for your comments Pledge of the poet referring to Frost. After 50 years of wandering he wrote, Woods are lovely dark and deep and I have miles to go before I sleep....julie
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