Hi, Jerry - I think we're saying the same thing, but with different words. I think you're right, though - a word other that "elf-king" would be more suitable. I doubt that Santa Claus would have anything to do with the Erlkönig. What makes it particularly difficult to translate is that "Erl" is not a German word - as far as I can determine, the only place it appears in the German language is in reference to this poem. Wolfgang, what image comes to your mind when you think of Erlkönig?
-Joe Offer-