One Saint Patrick's Day Poem by D. S. Jones

White mums and green carnations
declare today a celebration
for one little boy filled with anticipation
when he left a picnic basket out under the moon.

He wanted to stay and see the wee leprechaun
but his mother told him that he would not come
as she hurried him off to bed. And, thereupon
she hoped his sleep would come very soon.

When mornings light barely filled the sky
the joyful child awake with bright eyes
hurried to see what might be outside
but the basket was no longer there.

All over the garden were shamrocks green
and in the yard a trail could be seen
until at last he began to glean
the basket had been taken inside.

He followed the trail throughout the house
'till it ended by the kitchen, or thereabout
and finding the leprechaun's hat totally doused
with last nights rain lying beside a chair.

And there beside the hat he discovered
the basket filled with treats that covered
every desire a small boy could recover
as he peered inside.

He found little green cookies, and green apple treats
Gold-foiled wrapped chocolates and other great eats
and a special water from shamrock leaves
or so the bottle said.

Now this is the story from one special day
It happened long ago, as a young boy, they say
but he never forgot the joy or the way
he found the leprechaun's stash on St. Patrick's Day.