by Áine Leddy, New York

 

The cows were dry again this morn 

Those fairy mischiefs doing their worst

With guilt and shame I was torn

My whole clan would feel the thirst

The spancel should have been installed

Before I closed my eyes to sleep

But I had milking churns to scald

And left gap open to fairy leap

I will do better I decided

In the duel with the little man

My efforts would not be derided

No more empty milking can

So move along you little louse

No more free milk around this house

 

Áine based her poem on the folklore “Fairies sometimes milk cows. To prevent this tie a hair spancel in the cow gap.”