An Olive Fire

An olive fire's a lovely thing;

Somehow it makes me think of Spring

As in my grate it over-spills

With dancing flames like daffodils.

They flirt and frolic, twist and twine,

The brassy fire-irons wink and shine....

Leap gold, you flamelets! Laugh and sing:

An olive fire's a lovely thing.

Cozy Cabin

Judy Gibson

An olive fire's a household shrine:

A crusty loaf, a jug of wine,

An apple and a chunk of cheese-

Oh I could be content with these.

But if my cruse of oil is there,

To fry a fresh-caught fish, I swear

I do not envy any king,

As sitting by my hearth I sing:

An olive fire's a lovely thing.

When old and worn, of life I tire,

I'll sit before an olive fire,

And watch the feather ash like snow

As softly as a rose heart glow;

The tawny roots will loose their hoard

Of sunbeams centuries have stored,

And flames like yellow chickens cheep,

Till in my heart Peace is so deep:

With hands prayer-clasped I sleep...and sleep.

"An Olive Fire"

Robert William Service

(1874-1958)

British-Canadian writer and poet

known as "The Bard of the Yukon"