Lions and Leprechauns

His battered trunk had a cracked hinge,

scuffed and faded from sitting in the sand 

music and fabric tumbled out

–

He shuffled a lot, looking down 

following his feet through memories

–

“The reason, for no particular reason 

to share theosophical flashbacks…” 

has to do with a bookstore gig in the ‘60s

–

“There be leprechauns here,” he said,

gruffly and apropos of nothing 

–

And yet,

the singing voice poured out like molasses,

sweet and a little slow

–

extolling virtues of enchanted snuggling 

and a lion’s roar that might be the ocean.