Limericks
Limericks are five-line poems that use rhyme and rhythm to enhance the content of what they are saying. They are usually humorous and have a ‘twist’ is in the last line. Because limericks are usually funny, they often have made-up or slang words in them. There is a pattern to the poem’s rhythm.
Lines one, two and five rhyme with each other and normally contain a three beat metre.
Lines three and four rhyme with each other and normally contain a two beat meter. Lines three and four are usually shorter than the other lines.
Example 1
A cheerful old bear at the zoo
Could always find something to do. When it bored him, you know,
To walk to and fro
He reversed – and walked fro and to. (Anon)
Example 2
A sea-serpent saw a big tanker
Bit a hole in her side and then sank her. It swallowed the crew
In a minute or two,
And then picked its teeth with the anchor. (Anon)
These opening lines may be useful starters for writing limericks ...
Lines one, two and five rhyme with each other and normally contain a three beat metre.
Lines three and four rhyme with each other and normally contain a two beat meter. Lines three and four are usually shorter than the other lines.
Example 1
A cheerful old bear at the zoo
Could always find something to do. When it bored him, you know,
To walk to and fro
He reversed – and walked fro and to. (Anon)
Example 2
A sea-serpent saw a big tanker
Bit a hole in her side and then sank her. It swallowed the crew
In a minute or two,
And then picked its teeth with the anchor. (Anon)
These opening lines may be useful starters for writing limericks ...
- There lived an old hermit in Moil
- While eating my lunch on the sand
- There was an old camel at Finke
- The doctor who looked at my toe