"I bought a house in Cyprus, where grew an olive tree"

[Ragged Robin]

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.)

[Owl Lady]

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

[Steamerpoint]

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.

[woodspeckie]

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.

[johnny1]

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

[Yenidunya2]

I have the original. Any offers?

[Welldigger]

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.

[woodspeckie]

Thank you .

[Owl Lady]

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?

[Ragged Robin]

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!"

[Yenidunya2]

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

[Groucho]

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

Line four 'thought'?