Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

This is the first line of a poem which used to be sold in every souvenir shop in Cyprus, and describes the woes of someone who discovered that having bought a house , he hadn't bought the tree, and on buying the tree hadnt bought the fruit , etc. I believe it was calligraphed by William Dreghorne

I was reminded of it by the thread below "tree tax" below. Does anyone have a copy they could post here?

Meanwhile the first chapters of "Bitter Lemons" by Laurence Durrell are very funny about the traumas of buying a house in Cyprus (pre 74 but I think some still apply.)

Did have a copy, but can't find it now, don't forget you don't own the shade underneath it either. Excellent poem. It was Bill Dreghorne

Hi Ragged Robin I have a framed picture of the poem. If you pm your email address I will take a photo and send it to u.

Is it possible for you to put it on here? I would love to read it after googling Bill Dreghorne and reading about him and his writing. Tells a little about the tree but can't find the poem.

yeh can you post it on here so everybody can read it,?

I have the original. Any offers?

Poem shown below:

I bought a tree in Cyprus where grew an olive tree
I watered it and pursued it with assiduity
Until I found I owned the ground but did not own the tree
I bought the tree; for weeks I though the haggling would not stop

Now I can pick my olives and start a little shop
"On no" they said "you have bought the tree but not the olive crop"
At least I sit under it a little seat I made
Where I could smoke my cigarette and drink my lemonade

But no, although the tree was mine I did not own the shade
In my despair I cut it down, if not for food or shade
It might provide a useful fire if that was all it could
Alas, although the tree was mine I did not have the wood.

Thank you .

Thanks for that, lovely reminder as I laughed so much when I eventually realised after visiting here since 1972 and living here for 10 years, how very true the words are. I am sure Yenidunya2 will have the original, having known him and his late wife for many years.! How about auction for it, on here for Yenidunya's favourite charity?

Thank you very much Welldigger for posting it. I wanted to , but wouldnt have been able as I dont know how to post photographs, and sadly I have lost my copy.

Glad you enjoyed the reminder, Owl Lady, as I did.

Perhaps a copy should be handed to every visitor to Cyprus, and put on Estate Agents' windows!

One tiny niggle to the sake of accuracy. I think it starts "I bought a HOUSE" (or possibly a "plot" - in both senses of the word!"

The first line is:
"I bought a field in Cyprus where grew an olive tree"

Yenidunya2 wrote:The first line is:
"I bought a field in Cyprus where grew an olive tree"

Line four 'thought'?