Leprechauns and the Desert Shield Army Creative Writing Contest

A St. Patrick's Day Post

Leprechauns rarely appear in the Army’s archives.

But when Specialist Erick Maxwell ✅ checked Epic Poem and submitted “Love and Affection” to the Desert Shield/Storm Army Creative Writing Content he entered one into the record. 

Army’s Desert Shield/Storm Army Writing Contest

As it sounds, this contest collected more than one-thousand submissions of four types of creative writing completed while in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Ms. Harriett Rice, of the Army Community and Family Support Center, apparently developed this competition that even roped in Tom Clancy.¹ Winners received a total of $6,375 worth of treasury bonds–a note from First Lady Barbara Bush! As a clear indicator of how unusual this contest was, Major General Budge, the award’s ceremony’s presiding officer, commenting that this was his first time “recognizing soldiers for their creative and intellectual excellence.” 

With at least 1,040 entries into this writing competition, perhaps one lesson is that leaders could be creative in how they consider cultivating communications competencies. The Army may not need a recurring creative writing competition, but it does need strong oral and written communicators.

Onto the leprechaun containing poem!

Love and Affection

Specialist Erick Maxwell regrettably did not win the epic poem category (losing to Captain Leann Robinson), but I’ve reprinted his St. Patrick’s Day inspired poem below. 

Once, there lived young man by the name of Tim. 
He was the most pitiful sight ever seen for he was very ugly and very slim. 

Tim had a very long nose and ears like moose. 
His chin was very large and his arms looked very loose. 

He lived in red torn-down house that was located in the city. 
And as the cars passed him, the drivers hook their heads with pitty. 

Those who he called his friends made fun of him every day. 
They tricked him into much crime and there was continuous foul play. 

He never could get a lady companion, for when they look at him they would grin. 
But old Timmy boy would just leap on stepping as he lifted his oversized chin. 

But, there was this young lady that liked Tim because of his heart. 
However, Tim thought that she was too ugly, so romance never did start. 

Her name was Janet and she was sweet as can be.
However, the kindness didn’t compensate for her looks, and the whole town would agree. 

She was very pale and had skin like swede [suade].
However she stood erect like queen but her face was so low grade. 

If she was to comb her hair it would probably be hard task. 
To tell the truth it appeared as if she wore an ugly mask. 

She tried to get Tim’s attention when she saw him page by. 
But Tim said that there must be something better and avoided her every try. 

But one morning Tim got up and looked at his mail. 
He received a letter from Janet, and as he read it his face turned pale. 

In the letter Janet wrote, "l think love you and in the time have known you my love has grown.”
But Tim’s reply to the letter was, ”why don't you just leave me alone!” 

So Tim decided to dig a garden in his backyard, to relieve some of his confusion. 
Then his shovel hit this bright silver light, he thought that it was an illusion. 

Tim finally discovered that he had stumbled upon a vase. 
It was wrapped in wool cloth and placed inside tin case.

So he uncovered the new found goods to determine its worth. 
And up came leprechaun that was as green as the grass upon the earth!

The leprechaun were blue turban upon his head;
And the long over coat that he wore was very bright red.

He was short in statue, only about six inches tall;
And he stood a float in the air on top of a tennis ball.

The leprechaun told Tim "Since you let me free, 
I will grant life long wish for you as long as it is not me!”

So Tim frightfully told the leprechaun ”I want to be handsome young gent,
that has strong body, with biceps without dent. 

So the leprechaun gala. ”alee bama and ala rain. 
I grant your wish and shall now go to Spain." 

Then the leprechaun and the bottle faded away; 
And Tim rushed to the mirror without delay. 

After praising himself he decided to take a walk in the park. 
And women came around him like the animals upon Noah's Ark. 

He told them who he was and of course they didn't believe. 
But, the women drooled at the mouth as they tried to retrieve. 

He dated each beautiful woman one by one.
But in each relationship something was missing, the dates weren't fun. 

Soon he discovered that, what was missing was heart felt affection. 
The love wasn't there and the heart was left with ho direction. 

He found some affection but love was far away. 
Personal gain and sell glamorization brought dark clouds to his day. 

So after realizing what Janet felt for him was real love.
He dumped all of his other girl friends and begged Janet to be his dove. 

After much thinking Janet did agree,
and they decided to marry because love get them free. 

On the wedding night Janet took Tim to the side,
and she removed her mask behind which she did hide. 

She was as beautiful as the morning sun. for she had perfectly structured face. 
Her beauty was admired and desired by the people who passed by in the place. 

Astonished at her beauty, Tim asked. "a mask... why?“ 
She said that ”I wore mask because wanted my love to be of truth, not of selfish lie.”

1. Ms. Harriet Rice left truly incredible holdings to the United States Army Heritage and Education Center that are worth a few minutes of your time. They include uniforms and items from her time working in Vietnam service clubs to her work developing recreation plans for Soldiers across the world. Thanks to leaders like Ms. Rice!