{"id":3159,"date":"2017-06-07T10:48:38","date_gmt":"2017-06-07T09:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?p=3159"},"modified":"2021-08-11T17:15:56","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T16:15:56","slug":"how-to-write-a-limerick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/writing\/poetry\/how-to-write-a-limerick\/","title":{"rendered":"How to write a limerick"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Four

Image credit: YakobchukOlena<\/p><\/div>\n

Whether you are a writer, a poet or a complete newbie when it comes to creative writing, a limerick is a great place to start; they are fun, short, and sometimes (often<\/em>) a little bit shameless! Read on to learn how to write one, and see some examples.<\/p>\n

Writing a limerick<\/h1>\n

Standard limericks are written in a stanza format of five lines, with certain lines rhyming with others. Line one, two and five should rhyme with each other and be made up of 7-10 syllables, and lines three and four should rhyme with each other and be made up of 5-7 syllables. To make this clearer, I will mark this information on the example below \u2013 a famous limerick I love:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There once was a man from Nantucket (A)(9 syllables)<\/em><\/p>\n

Who kept all his cash in a bucket. (A)(9 syllables)<\/em><\/p>\n

But his daughter, named Nan, (B)(6 syllables)<\/em><\/p>\n

Ran away with a man (B)(6 syllables)<\/em><\/p>\n

And as for the bucket, Nan took it. (A) (9 syllables)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Anonymous, but first published by Prof. Dayton Voorhees in 1902<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The rhyming lines above have been highlighted by an A or a B, and this can be easily remembered using ‘AABBA’. After writing a few, though, you will find it comes naturally, as it is such an organic-feeling rhyme sequence. The subject matter can be anything you like: from a boy called Stuart’s first day at school, to a wombat with an identity crisis, and anything in-between! The wackier the better when it comes to limericks, but anything goes.<\/p>\n

Limerick examples<\/h1>\n

As many limericks are quite racy in nature, I have collected together a few enjoyable safe-for-the-blog examples below!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was an old man with a beard<\/p>\n

Who said, “it\u2019s just how I feared!<\/p>\n

Two owls and a hen<\/p>\n

Four larks and a wren<\/p>\n

Have all built their nests in my beard\u201d.<\/p>\n

– Anonymous<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

A bather whose clothing was strewed<\/p>\n

By winds that left her quite nude<\/p>\n

Saw a man come along<\/p>\n

And unless we are wrong<\/p>\n

You expected this line to be lewd.<\/p>\n

– Anonymous<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a young fellow named Paul<\/p>\n

Who fell in the spring in the fall.<\/p>\n

\u2018Twould have been a sad thing<\/p>\n

Had he died in the spring,<\/p>\n

But he didn\u2019t \u2014 he died in the fall.<\/p>\n

– Anonymous<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having fun with limericks<\/h1>\n

Below is a limerick I wrote in five minutes. It’s\u00a0far from great, but I really enjoyed writing it. Take five minutes out today and give it a go!<\/p>\n

In Leeds there was a depressed clown
\nHe never smiled, always a frown
\nAllergic to his red nose
\nEach shift, a thousand big blows
\nRetirement made that frown flip upside down.<\/p>\n

What would the subject matter of your limerick be? Why not share your (clean!) limericks with me and other readers in the comments below? We’d love to read them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you are a writer, a poet or a complete newbie when it comes to creative writing, a limerick is a great place to start; they are fun, short, and sometimes (often) a little bit shameless! Read on to learn how to write one, and see some examples. Writing a limerick Standard limericks are written…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[285],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to write a limerick - The Pen Company Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Limericks are so much fun to write and to read! 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