Cead Mile F'ailte

The Leprechaun
by Robert Dwyer Joyce

In a shady nook one moonlit night,
A leprechaun I spied
In scarlet coat and cap of green,
A cruiskeen by his side.
Twas tick, tack, tick, his hammer went,
Upon a weeny shoe,
And I laughed to think of a purse of gold,
But the fairy was laughing too.

With tiptoe step and beating heart,
Quite softly I drew nigh.
There was mischief in his merry face,
A twinkle in his eye;
He hammered and sang with tiny voice,
And sipped the mountian dew;
Oh! I laughed to think he was caught at last,
But the fairy was laughing too.

As quick as thought I grasped the elf,
"You're fairy purse," I cried,
"My purse?" he said, "tis in her hand,
That lady by your side."
I turned to look, the elf was off,
And what was i to do?
Oh! I laughed to think what a fool I'd been,
And, the fairy was laughing too.