Limericks

© Contributed by Leanne Guenther

[Introduction]    [Printable Worksheets]    [Example]

Introduction:

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..."

Example of an 8,8,5,5,8 syllable limerick:

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.

Printable Worksheets:

• Worksheet 1:  Information about limericks and space to write your own limerick.

Examples:

Limericks by Edward Lear:

• There was a Young Lady of Ryde
• There was a Young Lady whose Bonnet
• There was an Old Man in a Boat
• There was an Old Man in a Tree
• There was an Old Man of Kilkenny
• There was an Old Man of Marseilles
• There was an Old Man of Quebec
• There was an Old Man who Supposed
• There was an Old Man with a Beard
• There was an Old Man with a Flute

Limericks by Kaitlyn Guenther

Kaitlyn was 12 or 13 when she wrote these, so the syllables might be a bit off, but they're close.

• Easter Bunny  
• Jumping Monkey
• Star  
• Valentine's Day Limerick
• White Tailed Deer

Limericks by Leanne Guenther

• Limerick:  Daddy
• Limerick:  St.  Patrick's Day 1    St.  Patrick's Day 2    St.  Patrick's Day 3
• Limerick:  Turkey