THE NUT TREE

I was still very young when I saw them the first time.
Not far from me there was a huge nut tree and they collected around him.
It was a warm night of June; they danced naked under the moonlight at the furious rhythm of drums played by big black men. Then they made love.
The nut tree explained me that it was a feast for the renewing of life.

(The Olive Tree Tales)

KINGS

Their clothes were poor, they were dirty and not all of them owned a pair of shoes.
They were very young, still children I would say, already used to the hard work in the fields.
But that day they were laughing and running, they looked like kings: they had a rag ball.

(The Olive Tree Tales)

THE WIZARD

It looked like he was stealing the red of the poppies, the golden yellow of the ripe wheat, the dark green of my leaves... I don´t know how he could do it, maybe he was a wizard, he had to be.
The only thing I know is that when he finished, the canvass had a soul.

(The Olive Tree Tales)

THE REST

Every afternoon he was coming there to rest after the hard work in the fields.
He sat under my leaves, crossed his arms and enjoyed the last sun rays with a smile of bliss.
The deep lines on his faced showed the hard life he had. I think he was quite old.
One time he sat longer.
The night came but he still was there with his smile on his face.
He looked asleep. He was dead.

(The Olive Tree Tales)