I Tried to Catch a Leprechaun
A Funny St. Patrick's Day Poem for Kids
I went out on St. Patrick’s Day—
a morning wet and cold—
to try to catch a leprechaun
and find his pot of gold.
I saw a rainbow down the street
and just around the bend.
I chased it through the chilly rain
but never found its end.
I hunted for a fairy fort
where leprechauns might be.
I searched through soggy clover fields
and in a hollow tree.
I even built a special trap,
but it was all in vain.
And so, at last, I trudged back home
in frigid wind and rain.
I spent the whole day searching,
but I found no pot of gold.
I never caught that leprechaun.
I only caught a cold.
— Kenn Nesbitt
Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Reading Level: Grade 3
Topics: Health, Holiday Poems, St. Patrick's Day
Poetic Techniques: Imagery, Narrative Poems
Word Count: 123
About This Poem
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I thought it would be fun to write a poem about the tradition of trying to catch a leprechaun and find his pot of gold. Many kids set leprechaun traps, hoping to outsmart the tricky little creatures. But I started wondering—what if, after all that effort, you didn’t catch a leprechaun at all? What if you ended up catching something much less exciting instead?
That idea made me laugh, so I decided to turn it into this poem. I hope it makes you laugh too—and that if you go searching for leprechauns, you have better luck than the narrator of this poem!
If you are in the mood for a few more funny poems about St. Patrick’s day, take a look at these:
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