Wanda Willis Schedule

This month Wanda Willis contributes two of her original works, "The Old Man From Cork" and Irish Wishes. Wanda Willis is a Hoosier Folklorist and Historian who contributes to SouthernIN.com and also makes regular appearances at the Indianapolis Public Library System. Her schedule is listed below. Irish Rhymes and Lore by Wanda Willis Most of us know the stories of how St. Patrick chased the snakes from Ireland and taught the Trinity to the Irish by using the Shamrock and I'm sure we're all aware that the Irish love a good tale. I'm going to share with you a story that my father told me; his father had told him, and his father's father had told him, and so it goes . . . "Sure a little bit of Heaven Fell from out the skies one day And landed in the ocean In a spot so far away, And when the angels found it, It looked so sweet and fair They said, "Suppose we leave it, For it looks so peaceful there. Then they sprinkled it with stardust Just to make the shamrocks grow, It's the only place you'll find them, No matter where you go. And they showered it with moonbeams, to make its lakes so grand, And when they had finished, Sure they called it IRELAND. I'm sure you've heard of the Leprechauns. Those wee folk with their pots of gold. They're tailors and cobblers to the fairies. If you catch one and hold him tight he must grant you three wishes. And, if you're lucky to find their pot of gold, be careful, for they are great tricksters. Here's a Leprechaun story to enjoy and share with your family. The Old Man From Cork An old man from Cork was walking along when he saw this beautiful rainbow. Well, it seemed to him that he could follow the road all the way to the end of the rainbow. And thus, he did! Lo and behold, there at the end of the rainbow was a pot of gold. "This must be where the Leprechauns have hidden their gold," thought the old man. He would take the gold home and the next day he would bury it so that he wouldn't have to share with anyone, not even his wife. That night he put the gold in a burlap bag, putting it under his bed he went to sleep. Early the next morning the old man got up before his wife. He grabbed the burlap bag and left to bury his treasure deep in the woods. He didn't notice that the coins were dropping out of the sack through a wee hole. Finally, he realized that the sack had become very light. Looking inside he discovered that it was nearly empty! He looked around and saw the gold glowing along the path behind him. "This should be easy. I can see them shining in the grass. I'll just go back and gather them up." To his astonishment the gold had taken root and were now beautiful yellow flowers! The Leprechauns knew he had stolen their gold and had overheard his plan to hide it away. While he slept, one of the Leprechauns changed himself into a wee field mouse and nibbled a small hole in the corner of his burlap bag. To punish the old man for stealing their gold and for his selfishness in not wanting to share even with his poor wife, they had changed the coins into dandelion flowers so everyone could share in their beauty. Irish Wishes And now I'll leave you with two Irish wishes and an Irish blessing - golden nuggets from the hearts of the Leprechauns. I wish for you Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after Poems and songs with pipes and drums A thousand welcomes when anyone comes! May you have walls for the wind And a roof for the rain, And drinks beside the fire- Laughter to cheer you And those you love near you, And all that your heart may desire! An Irish Blessing May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. <back to top> If you are interested in hearing Wanda Willis in person, we have included a schedule of her appearances for the next couple of months. 3/17 - 7:40 AM app - FOX 59 (WXIN, Indianapolis) Morning Show IMCPL (Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library) 3/23 Garden Lore* Brown Branch 317-269-1864 5427 East Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 4/09 Circle of Magic** Warren Branch 317-269-1890 9701 East 21st Street Indianapolis, IN 4/10 Hoosier Hauntings Vincennes-Knox County Library 1-800-680-5669 502 N. 77th St. Vincennes, IN 4/18 Garden Lore Southport Branch 317-269-1873 2630 E. Stop 11 Indianapolis, IN 4/19 Garden Lore Shelby Branch 317-269-1878 2502 Shelby St. Indianapolis, IN 4/22 Garden Lore Decatur Branch 317-269-1872 5301 Kentucky Ave. Indianapolis, IN 4/26 Garden Lore Haughville Branch 317-269-1836 3805 W. Michigan St. Indianapolis, IN 5/04 Garden Lore Lawrence Branch 317-269-1759 7898 N. Hague Rd. Indianapolis, IN 5/06 Garden Lore Broad Ripple Branch 317-269-1792 1550 Broad Ripple Indianapolis, IN 10/24 Haunted Indiana New Castle Library 1-765-529-0362 376 S. 15th street New Castle, IN. <back to top>

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