Make Fun Of Life! - Limericks

Cheerful Duck

1/1/2026

Picture of a duck swimming in a pond, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

Cheerful Duck

A cheerful young duck in a pond
Of swimming was incredibly fond.
She’d dive and she’d splash
In a jubilant dash,
Forming ripples that reached far beyond.

By Author Unknown

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Ducks Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Welcome to Limericks on www.MakeFunOfLife.net, where you will find lots of lively limericks, many with accompanying pictures, and even hints about how to make your own if you would like to do so.

There Was An Old Person Of Wilts

12/9/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man walking on stilts, for the limerick poem starting with the line, There was an Old Person of Wilts, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Wilts*,
Who constantly walked upon stilts;
He wreathed them with lilies
And daffy-down-dillies,
That elegant person of Wilts.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.” (1872), ‘One Hundred Nonsense Pictures and Rhymes’

*Wilts: Possibly a reference to Wiltshire, a land-locked ceremonial county in England, in which can be found the ancient sites of Stonehenge and Avebury.

There Was An Old Person Of Leeds

12/8/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman sitting on a stool while using a spoon to eat a dessert called gooseberry fool from a bowl, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Leeds*,
Whose head was infested with beads;
She sat on a stool,
And ate gooseberry fool**,
Which agreed with that person of Leeds.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 19

*Leeds: A city in West Yorkshire, England, through which the River Aire flows.

**Gooseberry Fool: A dessert of sweetened gooseberry purée folded into whipped cream or a mixture of whipped cream and either custard or yogurt, often served chilled in glasses.

Limericks

12/7/2025

Metallic green and gold colored background, and the words, Humor And Inspiration And Learning About Limericks Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont - Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

Waggy Shaggy Reggie

There once was a dog named Reggie
Who was both tremendous and shaggy.
     He was quite fierce and grim
     On the front end of him,
But his back end was friendly and waggy.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Domestic Dogs Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Seemingly, the limerick galloped out of nowhere and into our world, and has been galloping about ever since. The limerick is possibly the most prolific poetic form in the English language.

A cow who enjoyed ballet,
Would practice her dance every day.
     She’d twirl and she’d leap,
     And never would sleep,
Till she’d danced all her worries away.
-Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Dance And Dancing Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Why Is the Limerick So Popular?

Well, it’s partly the shape of the thing
That makes the old limerick swing -
     Its accordion pleats
     Full of light, airy beats
Take it up like a kite on the wing!

By Author Unknown

In Need Of A Boat

In a castle that had a deep moat
Lived a chicken, a duck, and a goat.
     They wanted to go out
     And wander about
But what they needed was a boat.

By Author Unknown

A Young Angler

There was a young angler of Worthing,
Who dug up ten worms and a fur thing.
     He said, “How I wish
     Eleven fine fish
Would snap up these things I’m unearthing.”

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Fishing And Angling Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

The two main points to keep in mind when writing a limerick are the number of syllables in each line and the rhyme pattern, or rhyme scheme.

Curds By The Whey

A cheese that was aged and gray
Was walking and talking one day.
     Said the cheese, “Kindly note
     My mama was a goat
And I’m made of curds by the whey.”

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Cheese Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Syllable Count for Traditional Five-Line Limerick Poems
- Line 1 has 7, 8, or 9 syllables*
- Line 2 has 7, 8, or 9 syllables
- Line 3 has 5 or 6 syllables
- Line 4 has 5 or 6 syllables
- Line 5 has 7, 8, or 9 syllables
*If the first line is 7 syllables, the second and fifth lines require the same meter, or 7 syllables each as well. If the third line has 5 syllables, the fourth line must have 5 syllables as well.

How To Write A Limerick

A limerick’s easy to write:
Five lines with a humorous bite,
     And the first one must rhyme
     With the last two each time,
While the middle two paired make it right.

By Author Unknown

There was a young lady of Wales,
Who wore her back hair in two tails;
     And a hat on her head
     That was striped black and red,
And studded with ten-penny nails.
-Author Unknown: as published in Carolyn Wells: “The Nonsense Book” (1910)
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Attire And Accessories Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Rhyme Scheme for Traditional Five-Line Limerick Poems
- Line 1 - A
- Line 2 - A
- Line 3 - B
- Line 4 - B
- Line 5 - A
The ‘A’ lines must rhyme with each other and the ‘B’ lines must rhyme with each other.

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
     The clock struck one,
     And down he run,
Hickory dickory dock.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Clocks And Timepieces Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There once was a fish named Lee,
Who lived in a coconut tree.
     He’d swim in the air,
     Without a single care,
And chat with the birds over tea.
-Author Unknown

Jeremy Hoff

A schoolboy named Jeremy Hoff
Found a little green man in his broth,
     Who yelled, “Save me, don’t frown
     I need help or I’ll drown” -
Then they both needed time to cool off.

By Graham Lester
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Mealtimes And Eating Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Aerial view of the city of Limerick, Ireland, with the River Shannon flowing through the city, green fields surrounding the housing areas, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

Shown is a view from above of Limerick, Ireland. While the exact origins of the limerick itself remain partially shrouded in mystery, the five-line poem is indeed the namesake of the city of Limerick.

An Old Man’s Addition

There was an Old Man who said, “Do
Tell me how I should add two and two?
     I think more and more
     That it makes about four -
But I fear that is almost too few.”

By Author Unknown

A canner exceedingly canny
One morning remarked to his granny:
   “A canner can can
   Any thing that he can
But a canner can’t can a can, can he?”
-Carolyn Wells (Carolyn Wells Houghton (1862 - 1942))

Simply Sublime

This limerick’s simply sublime
And inspiring in meter and rhyme;
     It expresses but naught
     With intelligent thought
And to write it used acres of time.

By Author Unknown

A Tub of Squid
This squid that I have in my tub
Is just hanging around like a schlub
     Sure, he has charms,
     But with all those arms,
You’d think he could offer to scrub.
-Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Housekeeping And Housecleaning Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey,
     Along came a spider,
     Who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

By Author Unknown

Gherkins Pickled Perkins

There was a young lady named Perkins
Who had a great fondness for gherkins;
     She went to a tea
     And ate twenty-three
Which pickled her internal workin’s.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Pickles Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Slumbering Elephant

An elephant slept in his bunk,
And in slumber his chest rose and sunk,
     But he snored - how he snored!
     All the other beasts roared -
So his wife tied a knot in his trunk.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Elephants Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There was a young fellow named Flynn
Who was really remarkably thin.
     When he carried a pole
     People said, “Bless my soul!
What a shock to find out you’ve a twin.”
-Author Unknown

There was a young lady of Lynn
Who was so uncommonly thin
     That when she essayed
     To drink lemonade,
She slipped through the straw and fell in.
-Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Weight Loss And Weight Maintenance Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Old Man On A Hill

There was an Old Man on a hill,
Who never would pay his phone bill,
     So they sent out the cops
     And changed all his door locks,
That poor Old Man with a phone bill.

By David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966): “That Isn’t Even Funny”

Ferrets

Ferrets live by a code tried and true
From which humans can benefit, too.
     Teach your sons and daughters
     To do unto otters,
As otters would do unto you.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read The Golden Rule Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man with birds in his beard, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, “It is just as I feared! -
     Two Owls and a Hen,
     Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!”
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 1

Limerick Day, also known as Mr. Lear’s Limerick Day, is celebrated on 12 May of each year and commemorates the birthday of Edward Lear (1812 - 1888), who helped to popularize the form of poetry known as the limerick. Let’s all write a limerick in celebration!

There once was a fly on the wall.
I wonder, why didn’t it fall?
     Because its feet stuck?
     Or was it just luck?
Or does gravity miss things so small?
-Author Unknown

Limericks contain rhyme, rhythm, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, idioms, puns, and wittiness - that is enough to send a person running to find a dictionary!

A Thing

A thing with a horrible grin
And green, slimy stuff on its chin
     Was crawling and creeping
     While we were all sleeping -
I’m glad that it couldn’t get in.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Horror Stories Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Sean And Duck

There was a young man named Sean,
Who found a duck in a pond,
     He fed it some bread,
     And patted its head,
And the duck quacked all day long.

By David Hugh Beaumont: “That Isn’t Even Funny”

Sid Meets Shark

There once was a poor boy named Sid
Who thought he knew more than he did.
     He thought that a shark
     Would turn tail if you bark,
So he swam out to try it - poor kid!

By Author Unknown

There was a young man from Japan
Whose limericks never would scan.
     When asked why this was,
     He said: “’Tis because
I always try and put as many words in the last line as I possibly can.”
-Author Unknown

There once was a man from Peru
Whose limericks stopped at line two.
-Author Unknown

Smile!

No matter how grouchy you’re feeling,
You’ll find the smile more or less healing.
     It grows in a wreath
     All around the front teeth -
Thus preserving the face from congealing.

By Anthony Euwer
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Smiles And Smiling Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Mark’s Dark Humor

There once was a man named Mark,
Who lived alone near a park,
     When the young folks walked by,
     He would shout for a lark,
“People, you’re out after dark!”

By David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966): “That Isn’t Even Funny”

Traditionally, the third and fourth lines of limericks are indented a few spaces. Some limericks have titles and some do not.

Vicente Of San Clemente

There was a man named Vicente,
Who lived in old San Clemente,
     He sat on a wood bench,
     With an adjustable wrench,
And fixed bikes in San Clemente.

By David Hugh Beaumont: “That Isn’t Even Funny”
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Bicycles And Bicycling Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

How A Limerick Goes

A limerick’s rhythm, you see,
Goes, “riskety-tiskety-tee.”
     So have a good time,
     And remember to rhyme,
As you make it the best it can be.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Creativity And Innovation Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Young Mallory

There was a young rustic named Mallory,
who drew but a very small salary.
     When he went to the show,
     his purse made him go
to a seat in the uppermost gallery.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Theater And Thespians Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Say “No, Thanks!” To Rude Limericks

Some limericks are unrefined,
Impolite and rude and unkind -
     Nothing good they contain,
     Showing only disdain -
Folks deserve a much nicer kind.

By David Hugh Beaumont (Born 1966)

Opulent Ollie

One Saturday opulent* Ollie
Thought he’d go for a ride on the trolley;
     But his pennies were few, -
     He only had two, -
So he went and made mud-pies with Polly.

By Author Unknown
*opulent: affluent, rich, wealthy, fancy.
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Playtime And Playing Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Whatever The Weather

Whether the weather be hot,
or whether the weather be not,
     we’ll weather the weather,
     whatever the weather,
whether we like it or not.

By Author Unknown
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Weather And Climates Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

Old Mister King

“My ambition,” said Old Mister King,
“Is to live as a bird on the wing.”
     Then he climbed up a steeple,
     Which scared all the people,
So they caged him and taught him to sing.

By Graham Lester
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Birds Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

This is MFOL! . . . your website for lively clean limericks and helpful instructions on how to write them . . .

There Was An Old Man Of Dunrose

12/6/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a parrot on its perch stand, grasping the nose of a shocked-looking man in its beak, while another man seated in a chair watches, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man of Dunrose*;
A parrot seized hold of his nose.
When he grew melancholy, They said, “His name’s Polly,”
Which soothed that Old Man of Dunrose.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.” (1872), ‘Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures,’ page 253, limerick 7

*Dunrose: A fictional placename in the limerick poem that starts with the line, There Was An Old Man Of Dunrose, by Edward Lear. Mr. Lear created many odd and amusing names for places that do not exist, as well as using names of some real places, as rhyming elements for his limericks and nonsense poems.

There Was An Old Person Of Cannes

12/5/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman waving a fan around to cool down three chickens that are standing on a stool, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Cannes*,
Who purchased three fowls and a fan;
Those she placed on a stool, and to make them feel cool
She constantly fanned them at Cannes.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures,’ page 265, limerick 66

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Chickens Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Cannes is a city located on the Cote d’Azur (English: French Riviera), a part of France bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for being a vacation attraction for the wealthy, featuring a crescent-shaped bay popular with leisure boat and yacht owners, sandy beaches lined with palm trees, and scenic promenades on which tourists stroll.

There Was An Old Man Of El Hums

12/4/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear to accompany his untitled limerick poem that has the first line, There was an Old Man of El Hums, showing a man bent over and eating crumbs off the ground, with four birds doing the same, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man of El Hums*,
Who lived upon nothing but Crumbs,
Which he picked off the ground, with the other birds round,
In the roads and the lanes of El Hums.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.” (1872), ‘Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures,’ page 243

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Birds Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*‘El Hums’ is the fictional setting of a limerick poem by Edward Lear. The first line of the poem reads, “There was an Old Man of El Hums.” The poem is from his book, “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.” (1872), with an accompanying whimsical illustration by Mr. Lear, depicting a man and four birds picking crumbs from the ground. Mr. Lear's limericks were typically published in four lines, although limericks are also commonly written in five lines, with the third and fourth lines indented.

Edward Lear was born on 12 May 1812 in Halloway, England, as one of twenty-one children of a stockbroker and his wife. His spent his childhood in a comfortable home in Highgate. Because of his epilepsy and asthma, he was educated at home by his sisters Anne and Sarah. They introduced him to sketching and coloring. Through his interest and energy, though having had no formal training, he became a skilled draftsman. He traveled extensively in Egypt, India, Malta, Albania, Greece, the Holy Land, Ceylon, and Italy, and while visiting these countries, he used his talents as a watercolor painter to create pictures of birds, animals, and landscapes. He is known for his marvelous paintings of parrots and for his many whimsical illustrations made to accompany the nonsense limericks and poems he wrote, including the one shown above. Edward Lear passed on at 76 years of age on 29 January 1888 in San Remo, Italy.

There Was An Old Man On Whose Nose

12/3/2025

There was an Old Man on whose nose, Most birds of the air could repose; But they all flew away, At the closing of day, Which relieved that Old Man and his nose. -Edward Lear: “The Book of Nonsense” (about 1887) Continue scrolling down this website page to read the rest of the article, or click or tap on these words to read Anatomy And Physiology Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There was an Old Man on whose nose,
Most birds of the air could repose;
But they all flew away,
At the closing of day,
Which relieved that Old Man and his nose.
-Edward Lear: “The Book of Nonsense” (about 1887)

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Anatomy And Physiology Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There Was A Young Lady Of Bute

12/2/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman playing a flute as three pigs listen, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was a Young Lady of Bute*,
Who played on a silver-gilt flute;
She played several jigs,
To her uncle’s white pigs,
That amusing Young Lady of Bute.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846)

*Bute: The Isle of Bute is an island in Scotland.

There Was An Old Person Of Filey

12/1/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man ringing a bell as another man dances, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Filey*,
Of whom his acquaintance spoke highly;
He danced perfectly well,
To the sound of a bell,
And delighted the people of Filey.
-Edward Lear

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Dance And Dancing Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Filey: A seaside town in North Yorkshire, England, on the coast of the North Sea.

There Was An Old Person Of Pinner

11/30/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man sitting in a chair as two other men roll him up, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Pinner*,
As thin as a lath, if not thinner;
They dressed him in white,
And roll’d him up tight,
That elastic old person of Pinner.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 16

*Pinner: A suburb of the London Borough of Harrow in England.

There Was An Old Person Of Rimini

11/29/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman running down a hill as another person watches, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Rimini*,
Who said, “Gracious! Goodness! O Gimini!”
When they said, “Please be still!”
She ran down a hill,
And was never more heard of at Rimini.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 74

*Rimini: A city in Northern Italy, at the end of the Po Valley, and on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.

There Was An Old Man In A Boat

11/28/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man in a boat, with two other men looking at him, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man in a boat,
Who said, ‘I’m afloat, I’m afloat!’
When they said, ‘No! you ain’t!’
He was ready to faint,
That unhappy Old Man in a boat.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 15

There Was A Young Lady Of Greenwich

11/27/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman wearing a shawl that a calf is nibbling on, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was a Young Lady of Greenwich*,
Whose garments were border’d with Spinach;
But a large spotty Calf
Bit her shawl quite in half,
Which alarmed that young lady of Greenwich.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 65

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Cattle Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Greenwich: An area in south-east London, England. Greenwich is known as the site of the Royal Observatory, at which originate the ideas of the Greenwich Meridian, or 0° (zero degrees) longitude, used on maps and in navigation, and Greenwich Mean Time, also used in navigation as well as in timekeeping.

There Was An Old Man On A Hill

11/26/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a running man wearing a robe, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man on a hill,
Who seldom, if ever, stood still;
He ran up and down,
In his Grandmother’s gown,
Which adorned that Old Man on a hill.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 4

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Manners And Etiquette Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There Was An Old Lady Of Chertsey

11/25/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman who is submerged in the ground, except for her shoulders, neck, and head, while five other people look at her, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Lady of Chertsey*,
Who made a remarkable curtsey;
She twirled round and round,
Till she sunk underground,
Which distressed all the people of Chertsey.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 9

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Manners And Etiquette Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Chertsey: A town in England.

There Was An Old Person Of Philae

11/24/2025

There was an Old Person of Philae*,
Whose conduct was scroobious and wily;
He rushed up a Palm,
When the weather was calm,
And observed all the ruins of Philae.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 39

*Philae: A temple complex that in the author’s day was located on Philae Island. Philae Island was periodically flooded after the completion of the Aswan Low Dam, so during the time from 1977 to 1980, the temple complex was dissembled and moved to Agilkia Island, where it is today.

There Was A Young Lady Of Dorking

11/23/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman wearing a large bonnet on her head, while out on a walk, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was a Young Lady of Dorking*,
Who bought a large bonnet for walking;
But its color and size,
So bedazzled her eyes,
That she very soon went back to Dorking.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 26

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Hats And Headwear Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Dorking: A market town in the valley of the River Mole, in South East England.

There Was An Old Man In A Barge

11/22/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man in a boat holding a fishing pole, while balancing an oil lamp on his nose, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man in a barge,
Whose nose was exceedingly large;
But in fishing by night,
It supported a light,
Which helped that old man in a barge.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘One Hundred Nonsense Pictures And Rhymes, limerick 6

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Fishing And Angling Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There Was A Young Person Whose History

11/21/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a happy, smiling woman sitting in a ditch, using a quill pen and a bottle of ink to write in a notebook, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was a Young Person whose history,
Was always considered a mystery;
She sate in a ditch,
Although no one knew which,
And composed a small treatise on history.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 79

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read History Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There Was An Old Man Of The Coast

11/20/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man sitting atop a post that is on the coast of the sea, on which ships are sailing, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man of the Coast,
Who placidly sat on a post;
But when it was cold,
He relinquished his hold,
And called for some hot buttered toast.
-Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 83

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Mealtimes And Eating Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

There Was An Old Man Of Messina

11/19/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman facing backward as she rides on the back of a large pig, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Man of Messina*,
Whose daughter was named Opsibeena;
She wore a small wig,
And rode out on a pig,
To the perfect delight of Messina.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘One Hundred Nonsense Pictures and Rhymes,’ limerick 99

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Pigs And Hogs Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Messina: A city in Italy, on the island of Sicily.

There Was A Young Person In Red

11/18/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a woman wearing a large bonnet with bird feathers and long ribbons attached to it, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was a Young Person in red,
Who carefully covered her head,
With a bonnet of leather,
And three lines of feather,
Besides some long ribands* of red.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 30

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Attire And Accessories Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*ribands: riband is an early spelling that is now more commonly spelled as ‘ribbon,’ meaning a narrow, usually colorful, strip of material such as fabric or plastic

There Was An Old Person Of Deal

11/17/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man sitting in a chair, looking at another man who is standing on the heels of his feet and holding a walking stick in each hand to keep his balance, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Deal*,
Who in walking used only his heel;
When they said, “Tell us why?” -
He made no reply,
That mysterious old person of Deal.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘One Hundred Nonsense Pictures and Rhymes’

Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Walking And Ambulating Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.

*Deal: A town in England, on the coast where the North Sea and the English Channel meet.

There Was An Old Person Of Rye

11/16/2025

Sketch by Edward Lear of a man riding on the back of a giant fly insect, as two other men watch, and the words, Visit www.MakeFunOfLife.net.

There was an Old Person of Rye*,
Who went up to town on a fly;
But they said, “If you cough,
You are safe to fall off!
You abstemious old person of Rye!”
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures,’ limerick 81

*Rye: A town in England, formerly located on the coast of the English Channel, but presently located about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) inland, due to the build-up of land from silting, changes to river flow of the River Rother, tidal changes, and land reclamation.

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