Christmas took us by surprise

in the shelter.

I didn’t even realize

it was Christmas already.

I miss the burst

of fireworks

and hugs all around, ummm,

and the chicken stew

and the posadas.^§§

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§§ In the Latin American tradition of posadas, groups of people go from house to house, replicating the journey of Joseph and Mary, asking for shelter. The groups sing as they go and are sometimes received with gifts or piñatas, and sometimes turned away.