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Limericks

8/19/2019

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​Shown is a view from above of Limerick, Ireland. It has not been definitively established that the form of poetry called the limerick originated here.
 
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
 
Seemingly, the limerick galloped out of nowhere and into our world in the early 1800’s, and has been galloping about ever since. The limerick is possibly the most prolific poetic form in the English language.
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
     Anything that he can,
But a canner can’t can a can, can he?”
by Carolyn Wells (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
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​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!”
 
by 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!
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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”
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
This is MFOL! . . . your website for lively clean limericks and helpful instructions on how to write them.
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There Was a Young Lady in Blue

8/11/2019

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Picture
​There was a young lady in blue,
Who said, “Is it you, Is it you?”
     When they said, “Yes, it is,” -
     She replied only, “Whizz!”
That ungracious young lady in blue.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 38
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There Was an Old Man of Boulak

8/10/2019

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There was an Old Man of Boulak,
Who sat on a Crocodile’s back;
     But they said, “Towr’ds the night
     He may probably bite,
Which might vex you, Old Man of Boulak!”
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 88

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There Was an Old Person of Spain

8/9/2019

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There was an Old Person of Spain,
Who hated all trouble and pain;
     So he sate on a chair,
     With his feet in the air,
That umbrageous Old Person of Spain.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 90

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There Was an Old Person of Burton

8/8/2019

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There was an Old Person of Burton,
Whose answers were rather uncertain;
     When they said, “How d’ye do?”
     He replied, “Who are you?”
That distressing Old Person of Burton.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 106

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There Was an Old Man of the Wrekin

8/7/2019

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There was an Old Man of the Wrekin,
Whose shoes made a horrible creaking
     But they said, ‘Tell us whether,
     Your shoes are of leather,
Or of what, you Old Man of the Wrekin?’
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 29

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There Was an Old Person of Ickley

8/6/2019

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There was an Old Person of Ickley,
Who could not abide to ride quickly;
     He rode to Karnak
     On a tortoise’s back,
That moony Old Person of Ickley.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 67

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There Was an Old Person Whose Habits

8/5/2019

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There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
     When he’d eaten eighteen,
     He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 33

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There Was an Old Man in a Marsh

8/4/2019

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There was an Old Man in a Marsh,
Whose manners were futile and harsh;
     He sate on a log,
     And sang songs to a frog,
That instructive Old Man in a Marsh.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 18

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There Was an Old Person of Sestri

8/3/2019

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There was an Old Person of Sestri,
Who sate himself down in the vestry;
     When they said, “You are wrong!”
     He merely said “Bong!”
That repulsive Old Person of Sestri.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 71

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There Was an Old Man of Toulouse

8/2/2019

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There was an Old Man of Toulouse
Who purchased a new pair of shoes;
     When they asked, “Are they pleasant?”
     He said, “Not at present!”
That turbid Old Man of Toulouse.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 8

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There Was an Old Person of Tring

8/1/2019

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There was an Old Person of Tring,
Who embellished his nose with a ring;
     He gazed at the moon,
     Every evening in June,
That ecstatic Old Person of Tring.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 67

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There Was an Old Man of the Coast

7/31/2019

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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.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 83

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There Was an Old Person of Ischia

7/30/2019

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There was an Old Person of Ischia,
Whose conduct grew friskier and friskier;
     He danced hornpipes and jigs,
     And ate thousands of figs,
That lively Old Person of Ischia.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 14

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There Was a Young Lady of Tyre

7/29/2019

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There was a Young Lady of Tyre,
Who swept the loud chords of a lyre;
     At the sound of each sweep,
     She enraptured the deep,
And enchanted the city of Tyre.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 79

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There Was a Young Lady of Russia

7/28/2019

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There was a Young Lady of Russia,
Who screamed so that no one could hush her;
     Her screams were extreme,
     No one heard such a scream,
As was screamed by that Lady of Russia.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 91

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There Was an Old Person of Deal

7/27/2019

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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.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872)

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There Was a Young Lady of Greenwich

7/26/2019

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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.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 65

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There Was an Old Man of Dunrose

7/25/2019

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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.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 7

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There Was an Old Man of Messina

7/24/2019

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Picture
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), limerick 99

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There Was a Young Person of Ayr

7/23/2019

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Picture
There was a Young Person of Ayr,
Whose head was remarkably square:
     On the top, in fine weather,
     She wore a gold feather;
Which dazzled the people of Ayr.
 
by Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 73

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There Was an Old Person of Philae

7/22/2019

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Picture
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.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 39

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There Was an Old Person of Jodd

7/21/2019

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Picture
There was an Old Person of Jodd,
Whose ways were perplexing and odd;
     She purchased a whistle,
     And sate on a thistle,
And squeaked to the people of Jodd.
 
Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 96

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There Was a Young Lady of Poole

7/20/2019

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Picture
There was a Young Lady of Poole,
Whose soup was excessively cool;
     So she put it to boil,
     By the aid of some oil,
That ingenious Young Lady of Poole.
 
by Edward Lear: “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), limerick 47

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There Was an Old Person of Grange

7/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
There was an Old Person of Grange,
Whose manners were scroobious and strange;
     He sailed to St. Blubb
     In a waterproof tub,
That aquatic Old Person of Grange.
 
Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), limerick 55
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    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, who helped to popularize the form of poetry known as the limerick. Happy Limerick Day!

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