There was a Young Lady of Russia, Who screamed so that no one could hush her; Her screams were extreme, No one heard such a scream, As was screamed by that lady of Russia.” Did reading that make you chuckle? Well, what you just read was a limerick, and making people laugh or smile is the main reason people write these funny poems. Read on to learn more about where limericks came from and how you can write your own to get people laughing!
Limerick meaning
First, let’s define limerick
What is a limerick, and what are some limerick poem examples? People have been writing limericks for centuries. But what is a limerick, and why do people write them?
LIMERICK DEFINITION
What is a limerick?
A limerick is always a poem that consists of five lines. It follows a very strict format: A single stanza and an AABBA rhyme scheme. There is one rhyme on the first, second, and fifth lines, with a second rhyme on the third and fourth lines. Take a look at this sample of a limerick to see how these rules look in action:
“ There once was a man from Nantucket,
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man,
And as for the bucket, Nantucket."
When you read the sample of a limerick, did you notice that it wasn’t very serious? Despite the strict rules about how a limerick is formed, limericks are almost always comedic poems. Often, they can even be crude! Limericks are meant to tell a short story that will make the reader laugh, and are usually not very serious. Limericks are here for a laugh!
Limericks became popular when the English writer Edward Lear wrote a volume of limericks called “A Book of Nonsense.” Lear didn't invent limericks, but the book was a big hit, and limericks really took off in popular culture after that!
Rules of a limerick:
- Five lines
- AABBA rhyme scheme
- One rhyme on the first, second, and fifth lines
- Second rhyme on the third and fourth lines
Did You Know?
Limericks might have gotten their name from the city of Limerick, which is in Ireland. No one knows exactly how, but there are a few theories. One theory says the name came from an old parlor game where players had to make up a song on the spot to a tune. In the game, the limerick always ended with the line, "Will you come up to Limerick?"
Sample of a limerick
Limerick examples
Now you know that limericks are funny poems consisting of one stanza that follow a set of rhyming and formatting rules. View the video below to see a few limerick poems said aloud, and you’ll really get the feel of how these funny little poems work to get you laughing.
Examples of limerick poems
Limerick poem examples
How to write a limerick poem
Now that you know what a limerick is, you might want to write your very own funny little poem known as a limerick! But how would you do such a thing?
How you can write a limerick yourself
Reading a limerick is meant to be a fun and funny experience, but never fear, writing one can be too! All you need to know to write a limerick is the rules that these tiny poems follow. When writing, just make sure you follow the two key rules: Your poem must be only five lines, and your limerick must follow an AABBA rhyme scheme.
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You’ve learned how to write a limerick, but what if you’re interested in more serious poetry matters? If you want to learn to write a longer or more serious poem, read on.
