A limerick is a silly poem with five lines. They are often funny or nonsensical. Limericks were made famous by Edward Lear, a famous author who wrote the "Book of Nonsense" in the 1800's. This was an entire book of silly limericks.
How to write a limerick: The first, second and fifth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically 8 or 9). The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically 5 or 6) Limericks often start with the line "There once was a..." or "There was a..."
Examples of an 8,8,5,5,8 syllable limerickx:
STAR by Kaitlyn Guenther There once was a wonderful star Who thought she would go very far Until she fell down And looked like a clown She knew she would never go far.
A Circus Performer Named BrianA circus performer named Brian Once smiled as he rode on a lion. They came back from the ride, But with Brian inside, And the smile on the face of the lion. -Anonymous
The Bicycling PoodleThe bicycling poodle he saw Made the cop on the beat drop his jaw; It was easy to tell That it rode rather well, Though its hand signals truly were paw.
Old Man with a BeardThere 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.”
Now it's your turn!
Using the worksheet provided, you are to write a silly (not crude) limerick on a topic of your choice. You MUST use the limerick rules of 8,8,5,5,8.