'Twas the Night Before Krampus

Eve of Christmas night, St. Nick has visited my halls.
I steal downstairs to tear the heads from sister's pretty dolls.
They sit under the tree, their faces brightened by the lights,
So I can see their fearful doll expressions in the night.

I just can't help but smile as I grab poor Sally first,
And say with devilish glee "My god, that hairdo, it's the worst!"
I pop her head right off her neck and drop her to the floor,
Then pick up Tina next and show her what my hands are for.

A trail of dolly mass destruction lies there in my wake
When I go yank sis' stocking for some goodies I can take.
But as my arm is reaching down the pink and purple sock
I see movement in the shadows and my knees begin to lock.

I hear the quiet rustling of some chains that I can't see,
Though the pit within my stomach thinks that they might be for me.
I turn 'round fast to run back to the safety of my room
But my knees give out beneath me and they seal my little doom,

For as I turn around I see a figure in the hall,
With demons' eyes and devils' horns, and a different kind of Claws.
I smell a smell like brimstone as his hooves stomp on the wood,
I try to yell but make no sound.  Why hadn't I been good?

My underwear turns yellow and becomes a soaking rag
When he smiles and shows me all the children stuffed inside his bag.
They stare ahead with whitened eyes and though they're not alive
They tell me that they didn't know when Krampus had arrived.

My grandma told me stories of how Krampus walked in chains
And stole the naughty kids to eat the bad thoughts in their brains.
I think of this as Krampus pulls me upward from the floor
And grabs me by the head to show me what his hands are for.

Lines: 28
Form: Quatrain