Walnuts

We used to crack walnuts at Christmas
and sometimes other nuts as well

I remember the nut-filled turquoise bowl
splatter-painted with the divided sections
Whatever happened to it?

The metal nutcrackers were so hard to use
the nuts slipping from the grasp of pudgy hands

But the adults would help you if you asked
aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents

In those days we would all get together
and talk while we cracked walnuts at Christmas

But the metal nutcrackers were so hard to use
and supermarkets sell them unshelled for you now
Isn’t it just easier that way?

We don’t even eat nuts at Christmas anymore
I guess those old days are gone