Boiled Peanuts
after Su Shi
in the market’s morning chaos I stumble upon a small vendor boiling peanuts in a rusty vat the smell of salt and earth rises and I am drawn to the simplicity of this snack, this humble delight
the peanuts float to the surface like tiny brown islands in a sea the vendor scoops them out with a slotted spoon and deposits them into a waiting basket where they steam and sizzle, releasing their heat into the cool morning air
I buy a handful and peel the shells revealing the creamy white interior the taste is rich and satisfying like a summer afternoon spent lounging by the river, watching the water flow
I took Su Shi's focus on everyday subjects and his use of vivid particulars to craft a poem about boiled peanuts, a common snack in Chinese markets. I aimed to capture the sensory details of the scene, from the smell of salt and earth to the taste of the peanuts.