nuts

suddenly, a few days
before the holidays began
there were nuts,
hazel nuts, chestnuts,
Brazilian nuts
gathered in small dishes
about the tables.
nut crackers too.
silver colored, but swirled
like fancy
pliers.
don't eat all the nuts
my mother would yell from
the kitchen
as she stirred gravy over
a hot stove.
there was candy too.
the size of postage stamps,
squared and colored in stripes,
thin pieces
sticky and flavored.
peppermint.
spearmint.
some were round and had
a sweet goo
within.
where have they been all
year?
what are these nuts,
these crazy candies,
these exotic nuts from
other lands?
why now we thought as we
cracked one open, letting
the shells
break into our small hands.