"Leprechaun"

A Poem from the Collective Works of Clara A. Treat

LEPRECHAUN

THERE’S A LEGEND THAT LIVES IN OLD IRELAND
IN THE HEART OF EACH LAD AND COLLEEN
THAT’S AS DEAR TO THE HEART OF THE IRISH
AS THE WEARIN’ O THE GREEN

FOR THEY SAY IN THE GREEN WOODS OF IRELAND
LIVES A BAND OF SMALL MISCHIEVIOUS MEN
IF YOU CATCH ONE ‘TIS SAID HE MUST LEAD YOU
TO THE GOLD AT THE RAINBOW’S END

AH BUT TAKE CARE IF YOU’RE THINKIN’
OF FINDING AND HOLDING ONE FAST
FOR HE’LL CHARM YOU WITH SWEET IRISH BLARNEY
TIL YOU’RE BOUND TO RELEASE HIM AT LAST


Author's note:
OF ALL THE COLORFUL LEGENDS AND FORKLORE CAST DOWN TO US BY OUR FOREFATHERS, PERHAPS THE MOST APPEALING OF ALL ARE THOSE THE IRISH HAVE GIVEN US, BLESS ‘EM !

CERTAINLY, THOSE MISCHIEVIOUS LITTLE MEN, THE LEPRECHAUNS ARE A FAVORITE OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION. WHICH CHILD COULD NOT HELP BUT ADMIRE THESE LITTLE FOLK WHO PLAY SUCH WONDERFUL TRICKS AND SO SELDOM GET CAUGHT. THEN THERE’S ALWAYS THE FOND HOPE OF CATCHING ONE ! A TRIP TO OUR OWN “PINE WOODS” FOR THAT VERY PURPOSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A REAL ADVENTURE FOR OUR LITTLE ONES.

WE CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL A MIGHT SAD AS ONE BY ONE OUR BROOD LEAVES BEHIND THAT WONDERFUL WORLD OF MAKE BELIEVE. BUT THEN, WE REALIZE IT MUST BE SO, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE’LL BE TAKING OUR GRANDCHILDING A’HUNTING THE LITTLE MEN OF ERIN.