Snapping Beans

An afternoon in my Vavô's kitchen, age 6. One of my favorite snacks.

By Ashley LimaPublished 3 years ago • 1 min read

I mostly pretend to like the chore at hand,

But I can't pretend that the juices aren't irritating the hangnail on my thumb.

At least The Price is Right is on in the background.

I like to watch the spin of the wheel,

Though you likely prefer watching the contestants win.

I welcome the sun bursting in through sheer white curtains

As the smell of Vavó's biscuits wafts through the kitchen.

While our unshared language causes a barrier between us,

The simple pleasure of unspoken stories rings true.

Interacting through the fruits of our shared labor,

We spend time in the company of our ancestors,

Snapping beans as the open windows offer us respite in the form of a summer breeze.

Separated by a sea between the old life and the new,

United by an action; simple and sincere.

____________________________

Vavó = Portuguese for grandmother.

Vavó's biscuits = I don't know how to describe it other than a mix between a cookie and a biscuit, they're wonderful. Recipe here.

I think about writing more than I write, but call myself a writer as opposed to a thinker.

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