The Leprechaun

While hiking in Ireland on a cold and crisp morn,
I had an encounter with a real Leprechaun,
He wasn't of great size, just reaching my knees,
But walked right up to me as bold as you please!
"Good morn to thee young man," he said with a bow,
"Pray kindly tell me where you're off to now."
Well, taken aback as I was with this sight,
I said that in Cleveton I'd be spending this night,
With humming and hawing, he scratched at his jaw
and said, "So you need to walk this road for sure!"
I said that I did, and to my great surprise
he puffed out his chest right in front of my eyes!
"Just as I thought," he said, "but just so ye know,
I must collect a toll from ye afore ye can go."
I stood looking down at him, starting to laugh,
and told him this road was a public footpath!
"Now listen," he said with a sweep of his hand,
"I own this road, and I own all this land!
If you're bound for Cleveton, and I know this is true,
Pay me my toll or I won't let ye through!"
Feeling slight anger at this dwarf dressed in green,
I said I'd be damned if I'd pay him one bean!
"Besides," I said, "though this fact escapes your eyes,
You are a midget and I'm thrice your size!"
Though I expected some more of his quips,
A loud peal of laughter spilled forth from his lips!
"A midget?" he cried, plainly thinking me mad,
"Thats one of the funniest names that I've had!
But as you're a stranger," he said with a smile,
"I see you know nothing of this emerald Isle!
Leprechauns are legend and revered by all,
though we are tiny, our powers are tall!
My magic can stop you from travelling this road,
I'll do that by turning you into a toad!"
Becoming alarmed by this turn of events,
I decided to give him a handful of pence.
Dropping my knapsack I knelt on the ground,
The Leprechaun watched as I rummaged around,
Then before I knew it, as quick as a flash,
His little hand greedily snatched up my cash!
As quick as a wink he was gone from my view,
leaving me broke sitting out in the blue!
When I reached Cleveton much later that night,
the constable listened as I recalled my plight,
"So what you are saying is early this morn,
you were held up and robbed by a wee Leprechaun?"
I said that was correct and was indeed the case,
and watched as a scowl settled there on his face!
"I so wish you foreigners would not come out here
and belittle the fables that we hold so dear,
You may think us stupid, but I must insist
that bloody wee Leprechauns just don't exist!"