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.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘One Hundred Nonsense Pictures and Rhymes,’ page 201, limerick 67
*Ickley is not the name of any known existing geographic area. The closest named geographic area is Ilkley, a town on the south bank of the River Wharfe, in the City of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Northern England.
**Karnak, also known as Al-Karnak and the Temple Complex of Karnak, is an archaeological site in Egypt.
Who could not abide to ride quickly;
He rode to Karnak**, on a tortoise’s back,
That moony Old Person of Ickley.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.” (1872), ‘One Hundred Nonsense Pictures and Rhymes,’ page 201, limerick 67
*Ickley is not the name of any known existing geographic area. The closest named geographic area is Ilkley, a town on the south bank of the River Wharfe, in the City of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Northern England.
**Karnak, also known as Al-Karnak and the Temple Complex of Karnak, is an archaeological site in Egypt.
1 Comments
This classic Edward Lear limerick still brings a smile with its whimsical pacing and absurd imagery. I’ve been exploring limericks in my own writing too and even created a collection inspired by Wordle puzzles that play with rhythm and wit. It's fun how timeless and flexible this form can be.
