They all grow slow and crippled
from the parched soil and searing sun
in the groves of the family Liotrivi
in Monemvasia Greece
bent and spiraled trunks
sharply lanced leaves
like nightmares frozen in pirouette
as they reach for water and light
Koroneiki Myrtolia Athinoelia
the green fruit of their
3,000 descendants
cluster umbilically
when black-ripe in the fall
combed and raked
gathered and crushed
the pressing is paid for with product
did you know that a good olive oil
leaves a slightly bitter taste
in your throat?
a reminder of the hard years
every single year
for hundreds and hundreds
of them
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