Excitement builds as the temperatures fall
the coming of Christmas all children know
with gifts and feasting and decorations galore
preparing for Santa in the season of snow

The goodness of Santa, his sack bearing gifts
His wonderful reindeer whom everyone knows
He flies through the night as he studies his list
remembering the deeds that each child sows

The good children share in his bounty of joy
His gifts laid beneath their beautiful Yule tree
They will cry with excitement tearing at bows
ripping at wrapping, trying to set them all free

there is another besides Santa who shares that list
His name it is Krampus, he is a demon you know
Half man and beast, the coat and horns of a goat
he seeks out those children with badness to sow

stalking in the night of the whole Christmas season
His bundle of thin green birch sticks close at hand
in a faggot over his shoulder as he studies the list
seeking those children who deserve reprimand

Sometimes he snatches those mean little children
to a place they can't leave or find their way out
in the shadows he waits until they are sleeping
there is no place safe with him stalking about

He'll lash you if you deserve such a thing
if you're nasty and mean or selfish or curt
his green birch sticks are sturdy and strong
they never break while he delves out his hurt

So remember that joy is found in the giving
and spend all the year in kindness as you grow
So when next winter comes and the list is compiled
you can sleep without fear of feeling Krampus' blow

12/18/2017

Author's Note: Krampus is a pre-christian god of the germanic peoples. He was the god of witches. He was adopted as a demon by the christian locals and he is said to haunt the christmas season with a bundle of sticks with which he beats bad children.

Posted on 12/18/2017
Copyright © 2024 Brian Francis