Reykjavík Outsider

20111224

Yuletide Lad No.13: Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar)

Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar) comes on Christmas Eve. In olden times, candle light was the brightest light available. Candles were so rare and precious that it was a treat for children to be given a candle at Christmas and poor Candle Beggar wanted one too...

The thirteenth was Candle Beggar
– 'twas cold, I believe,
if he was not the last
of the lot on Christmas Eve.

He trailed after the little ones
who, like happy sprites,
ran about the farm with
their fine tallow lights.

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20111223

Yuletide Lad No.12: Ketkrókur (Meat Hook)

Ketkrókur (Meat Hook) arrives and adores all meat. In the olden days he would lower a hook down the kitchen chimney and pull up a leg of lamb hanging from a rafter, or a bit of smoked lamb from a pan...

Meat Hook, the twelfth one,
his talent would display
as soon as he arrived
on Saint Thorlak's Day.

He snagged himself a morsel
of meat of any sort,
although his hook at times was
a tiny bit short.

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20111222

Yuletide Lad No.11: Gáttaþefur (Door Sniffer)

Gáttaþefur (Door Sniffer) has a big nose, and he loves the smell of cakes being baked for Christmas. He often tries to snatch a cake or two for himself...

Eleventh was Door Sniffer,
a doltish lad and gross.
He never got a cold, yet had
a huge, sensitive nose.

He caught the scent of lace bread
while leagues away still
and ran toward it weightless
as wind over dale and hill.

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20111221

Yuletide Lad No.10: Gluggagægir (Window Peeper)

Gluggagægir (Window Peeper) arrives. He is not as greedy as some of his brothers, but awfully nosy, peeping through windows and even stealing toys he likes the look of...

The tenth was Window Peeper,
a weird little twit,
who stepped up to the window
and stole a peek through it.

And whatever was inside
to which his eye was drawn,
he most likely attempted
to take later on.

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20111220

Yuletide Lad No.9: Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Swiper)

Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Swiper) loves sausages of all kinds, and steals them whenever he can...

The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
a shifty pilferer.
He climbed up to the rafters
and raided food from there.

Sitting on a cross beam in
soot and in smoke,
he fed himself on sausage
fit for gentlefolk.

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