I didn't know about the farmer's market. So I was curious. I figured there would be rich imagery at the market—colorful fruits and vegetables, interesting people. And I liked the idea of the old man. I've always found something interesting about drawing and painting older people, because of the history and wisdom about them.

The poem has the man “scrutinizing” a cantaloupe. The original wording, before the poet changed it, was “contemplating.” I thought that was kind of strange—most people don't contemplate a fruit. So I had to go with it and really make it fantastical, and really make him contemplating it, as though it was alive or something. Like the fruit was floating in the air—like it was magical.