Limerick Show header 

  How to write a Limerick
Limerick Show Generator
Limerick Checker 
Limerick  Poems  

Click to download

GREAT SOFTWARE

Free

Limerick Checker
1.19Mb Windows

Free Trial

Limerick Generator
1.51Mb Windows

Add to Cart REGNOW

$7

The human race has one really effective weapon and that is laughter. - Mark Twain

 

Contact | Feedback | Tell a Friend | Join Mailing List

Funny Limericks

How to Write a Limerick

700 Limericks & How To Write Them700 Limericks & How to Write Them cover image
 
ISBN 978-1-4116-5494-5 (Order online or from your local bookstore)

Poetry or verse needs rhyme and rhythm.

Rhyme is where the end words have similar sounds like "right" and "write"; "limerick" and "slimerik" even when they look different. Near rhymes are sometimes used like "poet" and "goat" especially in non-serious verse.

Rhythm is the pattern of stresses in the line. Words have some of their syllables more stressed than others such as: poetry, limerick, stanza, doggerel.

A limerick writer of note
Accused of just acting the goat
Had claimed in defense
It's all a nonsense
I'd rather be known as a poet.

This is the traditional structure of the single verse limerick:

di dum di di dum di di dum         A
di dum di di dum di di dum         A
di dum di di dum                        B
di dum di di dum                        B
di dum di di dum di di dum         A
 
Try to have the punch line coming last and make it witty and unexpected for the best effect.

Alliteration is where there is a series of words starting with the same sound such as:

A Limerick lady in love
Heardsoft cooing sounds from above.
She saw on the ceiling
A sight most revealing,
And grasped at her gob with her glove!

So now you know the right way to write a limerick.

Note: US style spelling used. In UK English defense is spelled defence but both are pronounced the same way.

 "It takes a heap of sense to write good nonsense" - Mark Twain

You also might like to check out: 700 Limericks & How To Write Them Paperback book or Download. Explains in greater detail how to write a limerick and the use of alliteration, assonance, consonance, pace, tone and other poetic devices with over 700 examples to enjoy and study, by William Clark. Suitable for all ages.

Limericks today -- song lyrics tomorrow

Master the art of the limerick and you are well on the way to becoming a poet or lyric writer. Learn structure, rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance and consonance and you only need inspiration to produce a hit song.

Well, it is not quite that easy but it is a good starting point.

The fairy that fell off the tree
Was told by a gnome,"You are twee."
The fairy replied,
"I might well have cried,
But instead I will just kick your knee!"

A LIMERICK writer of note,
Accused of, "Just acting the goat,"
Soon claimed in defence,*
"It's all a nonsense -
I'd rather be known as a poet!"

700 Limericks & How To Write Them Read the review.700 Limericks & How to Write Them cover image
ISBN 978-1-4116-5494-5 (Order online or from your local bookstore) 

William Clark the programmer of the Limerick Show is a published and broadcast poet.

Like to try one of his songs: Ol' Jim (Magic in Them Feet)

 top.gif

Articles Improve Grammar Multiply with fingers Learn states and capitals Alarm clocks Winston Churchill William Penn

Books Gaelic Poems Write a Limerick Queen Hynde

MISC States and capitals work sheets States-mountains-heights Sitemap Awards Presidents USA List Prime Ministers UK List Download guide Links PRIVACY POLICY

Reviews Help for Business Writing Whitesmoke review

Software Alarm Clock Darts Download Multiplication-Times-Tables Learn Times Tables List of 50 states

Blog Power up with Proverbs
Copyright W.Clark 2008