Remembering The Old Country

Stories and foods, shared, around this time of the year.

Remember

My dad telling us

The story about

Sinterklass

And Zwarte Piet.

Gathering around

The kitchen table

On Christmas Day.

How he

A Spanish nobleman

Gave out gifts

To the Dutch children.

With his servant

Zwarte Piet

Who is

Of Moorish descent.

On December 5th

To those

Who were good

Throughout the year.

And to those

Who were bad

A lump of coal.

I know

This differs

From Wikipedia

But this is

How I remember

His words.

A tradition

Which didn't make

The voyage to Canada

In 1952.

Unlike the oliebollen

Dipped in

Icing sugar

And other baked items.

To tempt

The strongest of will

Dieters.

And yes

I do miss him.

Especially

During this time

Of year.

But I known

Dad is

In a better place

Free of his daily pain.

Author's Note

An oliebollen is a deep fried doughnut, with raisin or currants, inside of it. Rolled in icing sugar, once cool enough to pick up.