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 it 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