From "Prosperos Cell"

"The whole Mediterranean,
the sculpture,
the palms,
the gold breads,
the bearded heroes,
the wine,
the ideas,
the ships,
the moonlight,
the winged gorgons,
the bronze men,
the philosophers
all of it seems to rise in the sour,
pungent smell of these black olives between the teeth.
A taste older than meat,
older than wine.
A taste as old as cold water."

Lawrence Durrell