In Providence Heights, a town of much faith,
Where people hustled and bustled around
And time flew on by like a Christmas wraith,
There was a boy for whom hope was unbound.
He had heard all the stories of a King
Who was laid in a stable’s feeding trough
Where the animals ate—this babe did sing
In coos of love—a little sneezing cough.
This child grew into an adult, you see,
And remembered the babe from childhood dreams.
As such, he pushed people to remain free
Of judgments on people outside the beams
Of safety; the walls on which, steeples raised,
Have provided comfort to those within;
However, those who “had” were the ones praised
To the needy outsider’s blank chagrin.
So that made this young man look all around
And the more he did he could not believe
How praises of the Christ rose from the ground
While for “Christ in the poor” there’s no reprieve.
Within the town’s walls, steeples rose so high
With smells and bells and ginger cake
Wafting around and lights bright’ning the sky;
An idyllic scene this always did make.
Outside the city’s walls the darkness laid
And so the bold, young man had a hard sell,
As the religious people were afraid
That they would fall under darkness’s spell.
Perhaps, the man thought, they were very right;
Still, his conscience guided his deepest prayers—
His heart praying for the outsider’s plight,
And hoping they were not caught unawares.
The foreboding sky darkened above and
Below, within the very streets that
The cheerful music rang on through;
Yet, still, the people reveled ignorantly
To the fact that one larger than their
Fears was on his way to repay them
For their so-called pious—callous —
Actions, sins, that have been hidden
In stark, plain view among people who
Should totally know better than they say
They do. God wasn’t at all fooled by them
And, so, with tons of haste, a helper was sent.
The Krampus caught that town very unaware,
As he moved and jingle-jangled around;
His hairy hide and his horns were laid bare.
There was a rumbling all throughout the ground
As the tall goat-like beast dragged ‘round his chains
Making a grating, metallic, death sound.
The Krampus caught that town grossly unaware—
Their screams arising out of every house—
His brownish hair and his horns were laid bare.
The townspeople, confused as a lost mouse
They could not understand why he’d picked them—
Why he had invaded both church and house.
Yes! Krampus caught that town very unaware!
Yet outside, in the dark, stayed so quiet.
Krampus’s hair and his horns were laid bare
Not to darkness, but to the lamp’s riot
Against the light that gave abundant life—
Not to hoard or to keep as their own diet.
The Krampus caught that town very unaware—
The pious hypocrites were gnashing teeth—
His hairy hide and his horns were laid bare.
The flames engulfing each and every wreath
Produced a hot smoke of the blackest pitch
Rising as if it were coming from the heath.
Yes! Krampus caught that town very unaware—
All but the young man were taken to hell.
Krampus’s hair and dark horns were laid bare
“But we are saved!” they chimed out like a bell—
The beast’s laugh bellowed down into the pit
As he jumped in and, from there, they all fell.
The Krampus caught that town grossly unaware—
His hairy hide and his horns were laid bare
To a town that ignored the call to quell
The sin in their hearts and, so, there they fell.
© 2024 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: December 20th, 2024 08:59
- Comment from author about the poem: This experimental poem blends the Ballad, Shape, and Terzanelle forms and is written in Pentameter.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 17
- Users favorite of this poem: TobaniNataiella, Cheeky Missy
Offline)
Comments8
It's a very deep and multifaceted piece of poetic work. Best wishes of happiness and rich inspiration now and forever)
Thank you my friend. I am glad it resonated and same wishes to you as well! 🙏🖤🐦⬛
You know that Krampus guy? Is he on your Christmas card list?! lol.
I may have had a run in or two with him! 👹 🤣 Thank you for reading and commenting my friend! 🙏🖤
Is he related to come fat beardy bloke in a red costume, hat, and white beard, and welly boots, who leaves our lounges full of soot on Christmas morning? lol.
Oh...very much so my friend! 🤣 That be he! 😜
krampus isn't evil, he's only just
Indeed...exactly! And the ones who think themselves to be "holy"...might find out they're on the wrong list! 🤷♂️🤣 Or to take the religious terms out of it...those who find themselves carelessly and judgmentally privileged in society might find that heaven is ACTUALLY hell for them. Ah so many different ways one can go from there! LOL! Regardless, that this poetic tale in a nutshell 🌰 Thank you so much, my friend, for reading and engaging. I always appreciate and look forward to it! 🙏🖤🐦⬛
seriously! anyone who thinks they are so holy and pure, never really are.
Well this not one we should be reading to children!!!, amazing piece of poetry, deep and complex and takes more than one read, Very enjoyable, Thank you Tristan
Indeed, this might not be for the kiddies! 🤣 This lesson is more for the adults anyway! Thank you my friend for reading and leaving your thoughts! i truly truly appreciate and I am so glad that you enjoyed the poem...multiple times 🙃 You are so welcome, Tobani. No, in fact, thank you! 🙏🖤🐦⬛
You are very welcome
Excellent write Tristan
Thank you so much my dear friend! 🙏🖤🐦⬛
Wow!! 😲
Powerful penning!!
Scary great imagery my friend!! 👍
The Terzanelle form
just makes for a perfect blend!! 🥇
Brilliantly composed!!
Best regards ✌️ Thad
Indeed, I absolutely love ❤️🔥 the Terzanelle!!! You know I share your passion for poetic forms! 💯 (and emojis 🤣). Thank you so much Thad! I am glad that you found this particular form combination to work! Much appreciated my dear friend! And, just saying, one of the coolest characters in all of Bram Stoker's 🧛🏻♂️ is a TEXAN! #Fact And, honestly, Stoker should have went with your name, Thad, over "Quincy" imho...but we can forgive an Irishman for living and writing in that weird time period (I just think of Jack the Ripper alone! 😳)! 🤣🙃 Anywho, I babble onward now! 😅Thank you kind sir for your time and your praises! I am humbled! 🙏🖤🐦⬛
Fascinating and duly thought-provoking, rendered aptly with a haunting poignancy and excellent imagery, leaving this reader pondering. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Cheeky! I am glad the poem was thought-provoking and that delivered. It was certainly experimental and I wanted to tell a Krampus story with a twist.Thank you so much, my friend, for your time and feedback! ❤️🙏
A powerful tale of hypocrisy and a judgement and reckoning. Man, you laid that on thick! 👍🏻
Haha! I guess I did! LOL! Thank you, dear friend, I much appreciate your time and feedback! 🖤🙏
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