The Peales were a family of artists, agriculturalists and scientists. James Peale was the brother of Charles Wilson Peale, whose sons were also artists, agriculturalists etc, one of whom, Raphaelle, I’ve written about previously.
At first glance, the colours, and the choice of vegetables, looked to me like a bunch of old aunts lecturing the tearaway kids. But then, I noticed the cabbages and eggplant and squash seemed to be turned toward the balsam apple and the tomatoes. The lines are curved. The light is soft and glistens. Maybe the balsam apple is opening up? Maybe the aunts are listening? Are we hearing life according to vegetables?
More of my ekphrastic poetry here. More on free verse here.
Life According to Vegetables
groove like okra
hold tight like cabbage
layer like savoy
variegate like squash
exude like eggplant
swell like tomato
assert like purple cabbage.
be as free and vulnerable as a balsam apple
©elsp 2025
Leave a Reply