Limericks with Rhythm

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.

Limericks are NOT Irish! People get these confused for Irish poems

because there is a county in Ireland called Limerick. Edward Lear was an English man who aspired to write these funny little poems.

History of the Limerick:

A limerick is a funny little poem containing five lines.

The last words of the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other (A), and the last words of the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other (B).

To refresh your memory:

There was an old man from Peru, (A)da DUM da da DUM da da DUMwho dreamed he was eating his shoe. (A)da DUM da da DUM da da DUMHe awoke in the night (B)da DUM da da DUMwith a terrible fright, (B)da da DUM da da DUMand found out that it was quite true. (A)da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

For example:

Ideas for new limericks can come from almost anywhere. For example, you could write about your city, state, country, or name.

Here’s one using a name:

A Clumsy Young Fellow Named Tim A clumsy young fellow named Tim (A)was never informed how to swim. (A)He fell off a dock (B)and sunk like a rock. (B)And that was the end of him. (A)

Need Ideas???

The rhyme pattern (AABBA) The rhythm pattern (da DUM da da DUM da

da DUM) There are 8 syllables in the 1st, 2nd, and 5th

line and 5 or 6 syllables in the 3rd and 4th line.

These are identical to the patterns in the "Man From Peru" limerick.

Did you notice:

There once was a clover named Kate,(Rhythm Pattern goes here)

Who sat on the edge of a plate,(Rhythm Pattern goes here)

The fancy folk dined,(Rhythm Pattern goes here)

On foods of all kind,(Rhythm Pattern goes here)

Then tossed her at quarter past eight.(Rhythm Pattern goes here)

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

Compose your own limerick using the same rhyme pattern (AABBA) and the same rhythm pattern (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM).

Write about your city, state, country, or even name!

Remember that limericks have five lines but with the da DUM da rhythm pattern there will be 10 lines total!

Get started!

It’s your turn!!

When you write a limerick, make sure that it has the same AABBA rhyme pattern.

Make sure it also has the same Da DUM da da DUM da da DUM rhythm pattern.

Limericks often start with the line "There once was a..." or "There was a...“

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).  

IMPORTANT: