the tast of Christmas

the taste of Christmas involves
the smell of tangerines
and yellow stains
on your hungry fingers

to feel its texture we need a warm space
to grow mamma's sweet dough
into fluffy breads with swirls
of sugary nuts and plenty of raisins

for color the glass of red wine
that I am only allowed to look at,
in which grandpa has boiled
some cloves, cinnamon and a tad of pepper.

for mystery the smoke of real candles
to light up the dark, chase away the cold
we still remember on our lips and chins
from an icicle who broke off from the roofs' tin.