KCKPL YS How To Write A Limerick

Laughable Limericks

There was an old man of Madrid
Who ate 65 eggs - yes, he did!
When they asked, "Are you faint?"
He replied, "No, I ain't -
But I don't feel as well as I did!"

What is a Limerick?

How to write your own Limerick

More Limericks

WHAT IS A LIMERICK?	Top
A limerick is a verse of five lines that tells a story, usually with a funny twist.
The first line sets the scene and/or introduces the main character(s). There was an old man of Madrid
The second line rhymes with the first and may introduce a second character or indicate the action which is to bring on the crisis. Who ate 65 eggs - yes, he did!
The third and fourth lines are shortened to build tension. They introduce the second rhyme. When they asked, "Are you faint?" He replied, "No, I ain't -
The fifth and final line is the outcome and rhymes with lines one and two: But I don't feel as well as I did!"
HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN LIMERICK:
For the first line, think of a name or a character that the limerick will focus on and a funny place that it might all take place. (Remember that the first, second and fifth lines each have 8 syllables and rhyme with each other)
For the second line, think of some situation or event that involves your characters. (Remember to make it rhyme with the first line)
Your third and fourth lines will help make the story more funny and exciting. Use them to describe how the situation got out of control or became ridiculous. (Remember, 6 syllables only and make them rhyme with each other, but use a different rhyme than on lines one, two and five)

The final fifth line acts as a resolution and tells the end of the story. (Be sure to rhyme it with lines one and two and that it has 8 syllables)

Here are some more examples:

There was an old man from Nantucket
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
His daughter, named Nan,
Ran off with a man,
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

As they fished his airplane from the sea,
The inventor just chuckled with glee.
"I shall build," and he laughed,
"A submarine craft,
And perhaps it will fly. We shall see."

There were three little birds in a wood
Who always sang hymns when they could.
What the words were about
You could never make out,
But you felt it was doing them good.

There once was a boy of Baghdad,
An inquisitive sort of a lad,
Who said, "I will see
If a sting has a bee."
And he very soon found that it had!

There was a young man who said, "Do
Tell me how I'm to add two and two.
I'm not very sure
That it doesn't make four -
But I fear that is almost too few."

The fabulous Wizard of Oz
Retired from business becoz,
Due to up-to-date science,
To most of his clients
He wasn't the Wiz that he woz.