These fresh peppers–
fire-engine red and leather-supple,
all youth and loudness–
gather,
jostling and laughing,
enjoying the attention.

They age,
color mellowing to burgundy,
skin stiffening.

Relaxed now, they fall silent,
awed by the heat building within,
ready to release the fire
for which they were bred.

Young peppers flash;
old peppers burn.

Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.