Some seek far and wide to find fortune

Some travel far only to find

Near friends are the finest of fortunes.

Happily we note light’s return each new Christmas.

Our moment or two of year after year.

In our neighborhood, repeated twice.

On Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

We light candles as a celebration along our little stretch of roads

Glowing in paper bags shielded from wind, snow, or rain.

A common name is“luminaries””

Presenting as long ribbons of light

Curving gently along our roads.

Linking us on dark nights in common cause

We are inspired and proud of the event

Our simple expression of shared joy.

Old fashioned candle-light that links us

This year we’d traveled far to see a child

Only to return on this eave.

Our African cabby marveled as he saw them ahead

I felt the glow of my neighbors welcome

Giving a new reminder that we were home.

Wrapping us all together in warm light.