Jólakötturinn

The Yuletide Cat. An Icelandic Myth

Grýla's cat is Jólakötturinn,
black, bleak and hungry
mean as they come
a maleficent creature,
so silent at night
on the eve of each Yuletide
he prowls through the snows
dark, sleek and starving
seeking out the lazy
the worthless, work shy
sniffs at your presents
somehow he knows
if he meows at your door
he's announcing your doom.

So work hard for your mother
and do all your chores
for your master toil ceaseless
then the fruits of your labours
new clothes should supply
and if you're found wanting
then shortly you'll die
torn by his teeth
fearsome Jólakötturinn
torn limb from limb
gobbled down
gone.


Line Count: 26

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A couple of useful links I found were:

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/12/the-yule-cat-of-iceland-a-different-kind-of...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Christmas_folklore#Yule_cat