The Leprechaun

In a shady nook one moonlight night,
A leprehaun I spied;
With scarlet cap and coat of green,
A cruiskeen* by his side.
‘Twas tick tack tick his hammer went,
Upon a teeny shoe;
And I laughed to think of a purse of gold
But the fairy was laughing too!

With tip-toe and beating heart,
Quite softly I drew nigh;
There was mischief in his merry face,
A twinkle in his eye.
He hammer’d and sang with tiny voice,
And drank his mountain dew
And I laughed to think he was caught at last;
But the fairy was laughing too!

As quick as thought I seized the elf;
“Your fairy purse,” I cried.
“The purse”, he said, “’tis in her hand
That lady at your side.”
I turned to look: the elf was off!
Then what was I to do?
O, I laughed to think what a fool I’d been;
And the fairy was laughing too!

*a small pitcher or jug (source)