Writer's Corner Wednesday, Vol. 5

So, I was trying to think of something that would be fun to post about, though at this particular moment I can't promise I'll be contributing something of my own today. Perhaps inspiration will strike by the end of this post.

Today, we focus on...the limerick! :-)

Now, I wanted to do a little bit of research so that I could give you some background on the limerick, so check this out:

"The form of poetry referred to as Limerick poems have received incredibly bad press and been dismissed as not having a rightful place amongst what is seen as 'cultivated poetry.' The reason for this is three-fold:

1. The content of many limericks is often of a bawdy and humorous nature.

2. A Limerick as a poetry form is by nature simple and short - only 5 lines.

3. And finally the somewhat dubious history of limericks have contributed to the critics' attitude."

It seems that the poems that really began what we now know as the limerick can be traced back to the 14th century in England. Limericks were actually first used in Nursery Rhymes and other poems for children. But since the pattern of the limerick was sort and easily imitated, they began to grow in popularity amongst beggars and the working class in the pubs and taverns of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. (Meaning most of those who began making them up were a little less than sober!) Limericks began to have a "dirty" connotation at that point.

The limerick is made of five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines have 7 to 10 syllables and rhyme with each other. The third and fourth lines have 5 to 7 syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Now, here are some examples! (I tried to find some that were humorous without being obscene.)

There was an Old Man who supposed,

That the street door was partially closed;

But some very large rats,

Ate his coats and his hats,

While the futile old gentleman dozed.

****

There was a Young Lady whose eyes,

Were unique as to colour and size;

When she opened them wide,

People all turned aside,

And started away in surprise.

****

The ingredients promote disbelief

As I thought I was eating some beef.

But a product with oats

More fitting for goats

Is giving my stomach some grief.

(Hmmm...eaten any Taco Bell lately?)

****

The limerick is furtive and mean

You must keep her in close quarantine

Or she sneaks to the slums

And promptly becomes

Disorderly, drunk, and obscene.

(A limerick about limericks! Love it!)

****

A limerick fan from Australia

regarded his work as a failure;

his verses were fine

until the fourth line

...?

(You have to make the first two lines rhyme for the accent to be awesome.)

****

There was a young lady named Kite

Who speed was much faster than light.

She left home one day

In a relative way

And returned on the previous night.

****

God's plan made a hopeful beginning,

But Man spoilt his chances by sinning;

We trust that the story

Will end in great glory,

But at present the other side's winning.

***

Archimedes, the well known truth-seeker,

Jumping out of his bath, cried "Eureka!"

He ran half a mile,

Wearing only a smile,

And became the very first streaker.

****

A young man from Timbucktoo

Whose limericks stopped at line two.

I think that's a good number of limericks for one post. I tried my hand a couple, but couldn't quite pull them together. What about you? Compose your own limerick and post it in the comments below! If I come up with a good one, I'll share it tomorrow with our Thoughts on Thursday. Don't forget to let me know if there are any topics you're interested in reading quotes about. :-)

Until tomorrow...

♥ Marlee