Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WISH, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WISH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A leprecaun-fairy was pegging some shoes
Last Line: "'tis the one wish I wanted!"" said she."
Subject(s): Wishes


A LEPRECAUN-FAIRY was pegging some shoes,
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
With long curly toes, like the court fairies use,
All red like the sumach, in pairs made of twos—
"For fear they'd be lonely," said he!

"O Shoemaker green, I have spied on you thrice!
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
I have called your name once, I have called your name twice,
And now, Mister Leprecaun, pay me my price!"
"Ah, sure, if ye wish it," said he.

"One wish ye may have for the sight of your eyes,
(And only one, mind ye," said he.)
"So take your time now, that the wish may be wise,
For a wish comin' true is a bit of surprise!"
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)

"And what if I wish for a big, golden ball?
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
And what if I wish for the blue sky to fall?
And what if I wish for the great world-and-all?"—
"Just be pleasin' your fancy!" said he.

"But, Leprecaun, dear, tell me what would you do?
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
For how can I know if the sky is real blue?
Is the world-and-all heavy? I'll leave it to you"—
" 'Tis a bit of a handful!" said he

"And how if you wanted a million of things?
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
If you longed for the rainbow and wished you had wings,
And a gown of pink velvet and toffy in strings?"
"Sure, I think I'd go crazy!" said he.

" 'Tis plain ye can't choose," said the Leprecaun green,
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
"So, since I've no time for a shiftless colleen,
Sure, I'll give ye these shoes with a wish in between—
Ye'll find it there—maybe!" said he.

Ochone, and Ochone! He was up and away!
(Tickety, tackety, tee!)
And red as the sumach the fairy shoes lay
With the wish in between—and one fortunate day,
"'Tis the one wish I wanted!" said she.





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