Pomegranates and oranges
My favourite summer fruits

For three years, in my village, there used to be a shortage of these two fruits
and we were only allowed one fruit a day
But I liked the taste of pomegranates after stripping the oranges of their shields
So I found a piece of land, hidden in the space in between 2 valleys
And I grew as many pomegranates and oranges as I could

First-year - no yield, crops died
The drought meant I had to carry water up and down the valleys more than once every day
It was tiresome and I just wanted to enjoy the fruits of summer
Second year - low yields didn't hold me up till the end of summer
Moving the crops to an area closer to water, meant that I didn't have to carry as much water as often as I would have had otherwise
In the third year - the ban was lifted and my yield was good enough to enjoy the fruits all year round
Lastly, because the ban was lifted, I was able to grow these fruits in a close-by garden

In three years, I found that green tips grew on the calluses of my palms and soles
And the fruits found a way to slither around my body and turn me into a tree
Bearing new fruits of my own

My hard work has not been lost
It has had its gains - being showered with my own affection every summer
In the presence of rules made by cruel kingdoms, I made a home
Warmed up some water and added some taste to help me travel the road least travelled
And you bet it made all the difference

My gains are beyond some moments of enjoyment and joy, and although these are relevant too
My triumph came from knowing, and learning how to master the most important element on this planet
My soul.