With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I thought it might be fun to write a poem about the holiday. Over the years I’ve written a number of poems about wearing green clothing on March 17th, because green is the color most people associate with St. Patrick’s Day. As it happens, green is also my favorite color.
But while I was thinking about the holiday, I began to wonder what it might be like if someone didn’t like green at all. What if they actually disliked it? And what if that someone was expected to wear green every day—like a leprechaun?
That’s where the idea for Larry the Leprechaun came from. Larry refuses to wear green, even though everyone tells him he has to. When I started writing the poem, I knew Larry didn’t like green, but I didn’t know what he was going to do about it.
About halfway through writing the poem, I suddenly realized that if Larry didn’t want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, maybe he could celebrate a holiday named after another famous saint instead. I hope you enjoy it. This is…
Larry the Leprechaun
Larry the Leprechaun didn’t like green.
He cried, “It’s the worst color I’ve ever seen!
It might be okay for a bush or a tree,
but green is a color you won’t find on me.
“I’m not fond of olive, or forest, or lime.
I don’t like chartreuse, neon, clover, or thyme.
I shudder at shamrock and juniper too.
But I’m not allowed to wear purple or blue.
“They tell me I have to wear green every day,
and shouldn’t wear orange, magenta, or gray.
Well, sorry, I have to be true to myself.
A leprechaun’s more than some silly green elf.
“And that’s why, regardless of what people say,
I no longer celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.
From now on, I’m dressing in pink, white, and red
to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day instead.”
— Kenn Nesbitt
