THE TALE OF TISH (an Irish Fable)

THE TALE OF TISH (an Irish Fable)*In County Cork Ireland, Donnekey, there's a lively pub called O'Shannesy'sThere works a maid, behind the bar,A more fetching wench, neither near nor farA striking beauty named Tish O'Hara,blessed fair of face with auburn hair. For a tip or two, she earned her living, but known to roll, for an extra shilling.*She kept all the funds she could collect, in a sock, which she tucked in her décolletéShe used her smile and her flashing green eyes, to ensure that the coins in her tip jar rise. She enjoyed the company of many a man, But never lost heart to a single one!She lived her life as she damn well pleased,not starving for need of company!*She liked her men and her liquor strong, and she went through much before too longOne fateful night so bright the stars, the owner took sick so she closed the barAnd thus, because the boss was away, the randy lass, took time to play.She poured herself an extra strong one, of Irish whiskey and then had another one.*As she staggered out she turned the key, and left straight for home, unaccompanied.The moon was full and bright as the day, as a lamp would be to light her way!The road was long and but straight ahead, was the shorter way through Patty's Glen.Of childhood lore where it had been uttered,the Leprechauns meet to play cards with each other*Her eyes moved quickly from side to side as a feeling of woe began to preside.From behind a rock, striking quick and sure,a hoard of the little bastards, accosted her.They held her fast and went straight for her shillings,but to part with that, she'd most not be willin!So she asked them if she could make a bet,her riddle unanswered, her coins she'd get back.*The little men thought and then they agreed, to up the ante most considerably!If they could answer, she'd go home broke, or she'd keep her shillings plus their pot of gold.So positive they were, of their own success,they added the gold in, at her own request. What's the riddle, What the riddle?" they said, as she nervously, made one up fast in her head!*"If wordplay is best left to all the Poets, what do you call one who's Not, and still does it?"She nervously awaited their anticipated reply,but seconds, then minutes, and hours went by!It's then that they knew, they'd been totally stumped. "What's the answer than lass?" they said with a jump."Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face!"the answer my friends, is a cunning linguist"*Now she owns the bar, where once she served, and the tale is retold and overheard,of the night she tricked the Leprechauns,taking home their gold, and their motherload!But if you ever go visit, detour Patty's Glen, or you might just meet with a violent end!As the Leprechauns keep trying, to recoup their assets, that they lost long ago, to one cunning lassie!*WordPlaya, March 2009