Of Certain Irish Fairies
The Leprechaun-The omadhaun-that lives in County Clare,
Is one foot wide and three feet high without an inch to spare.
He winks the sea-blue eye of him, like other saucy rogues,
And underneath the blackthorn bush he sits to clout his brogues.
Then, if you catch the Leprechaun and never loose your hold,
He’s bound to show you where he’s hid a pot of yellow gold,
And give you, too, a fairy purse with tassels down the end
That’s never bare but always full no matter what you spend.
Tis I would catch the Leprechaun; and then what would I do?
I’d take the yellow gold, machree, and give it all to you!
The Cluricawne of Monaghan is might seldom seen;
He wears a crimson swallow-tail, a vest of apple-green
And shiny shoes with buckles, too, and silver ones at that,
And on his curly head, askew he claps a steeple-hat.
Tis I will catch the Cluricawne; and why? Because he knows
The only spot in Eire where the four-leafed shamrock grows,
The shamrock that the fairies tend, that does not spring from seed;
Twill bring you health and wealth and love,- though love you’ll never need;
Twill bring you ribbons, laces, pearls and jewels great and small;
So I will catch the Cluicawne and you shall have them all.