Under an orange tree

Under an orange tree
sitting people three
chattering about all
and nothing at all
enjoying their wine
their eyes and mine
encounter each other
feelings sister to brothers

Under an orange tree
three fates of variety
we were Europeans all
standing up and tall
in each of us combine
life's experiences entwine
here in a village souther
our selves ruled our rudder

Under an orange tree
our chats were of society
one lost his wife to squall
two were just having a ball
flirting to a bantering line
knowing it was just the wine
prizing the company of each other
one surely after another.

Under an orange tree
graces joined in unsobriety
just to events forestall
ending not in a port of call
where misunderstandings whine
but serious friendship aligns
with a smile of the calligrapher
bowing deep to the philosopher

To Tony and Adrian