How to Write a Limerick
What is a Limerick?
Limericks are one of the most fun and well-known poetic forms. No one knows for sure where the name "limerick" comes from, but most people assume it is related to the county of Limerick, in Ireland.
The reason limericks are so much fun is because they are short, rhyming, funny, and have a bouncy rhythm that makes them easy to memorize. In this lesson, I'll show you how you can write your own limericks in just a few easy steps.
Rules for writing a Limerick
Limericks, like all poetic forms, have a set of rules that you need to follow. The rules for a limerick are fairly simple:
They are 5 lines long
Lines 1,2,and 5 rhyme with one another
Lines 3 and 4 rhyme with on another
They have a distinctive rhythm
They are usually funny. A LIMERICK
Rhyming a Limerick
The rhyme scheme of a limerick is known as "AABBA." This is because the last words in lines 1,2, and 5 rhyme. Those are the "A's" in the rhyme scheme. The "B's" are the last words of lines 3 and 4. Let me give you an example:
There once was a puppy named Pat
who adored every kitty cat
He would lick the cats clean
as part of his morning routine
All the dogs teased him badly for that!
-Anonymous