Larry

Alexander S. Peak

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There was a leprechaun named Larry;

He had lost his way.

He was searching for a Laundromat

But instead found a café.

Little is known about Larry—

He was lovable, no doubt—

But he had quite a temper

At least when out and about.

You see,

It’s a risky thing, being a leprechaun,

For without a little luck

A leprechaun can easily be caught

By one aiming to make a buck.

Everyone knows about leprechauns

And their love for dealing in gold.

And, with the economy as it is these days,

Hard money is something to behold.

It’s true,

Larry eschewed fiat currency,

And with very good cause:

He knew that central banking

Was just riddled with flaws.

Thus like other leprechauns,

Larry traded in gold.

“The state cannot inflate it,”

By economists he’d been told.

But because the paper money

Was so quickly falling in purchasing power,

Larry knew he was at greater risk than normal—

Demand had risen for his golden tower.

Larry was at great risk—

He knew this quite well—

So when he ran into a boy named Luke,

To his money he said farewell.

Alas,

Larry was surprised

By the interaction that day;

Instead of trying to take his gold,

Luke helped him find his way.

Larry was surprised

But extremely grateful nonetheless.

“Don’t you know, boy,” he had to ask,

“I’m a leprechaun against whom you could easily transgress?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the boy,

“I know that quite truly.

But I believe in Liberty, not theft,

To take what’s rightfully yours would be unruly.”

And, well,

That’s the story of Larry.

All that is known about him has thus been told.

But I’ve heard he did give Luke a piece of gold bullion,

In thanks he could not withhold.

Jotted down 17 March 2009 by Alexander S. Peak