Writing A Limerick
The High Performance Learning Literary Club ran a poetry writing workshop. As a warm up exercise to learn about rhyme and rhythm the group had the task of writing the last line for a Limerick. They only had 10 minutes to do it and you can see their attempts below. Why don’t you try to do it yourself and share it by writing it in the box at the bottom of this page.
What is a Limerick?
A limerick is a witty, sometimes obscene, 5 line poem with a standard rhythm and rhyming pattern. Limericks came out of Ireland and were popularised by Edward Lear in his 1744 book called Nonsense which you can read here (Nonsense by Edward Lear).
Rhyming Pattern for a Limerick:
AABBA
Usual Rhythm pattern for a Limerick:
da da DAH / da da DAH / da da BING
da da DAH / da da DAH / da da DING
da da DAH / da da BAM
da da DAH / da da WHAM
da da DAH / da da DAH / da da PING
Exercise
Rewrite the last line of this Limerick:
There was a mechanic up in Blackwood,
Who didn’t fix cars the way that he should.
When his clients complained,
The manufacturers he blamed,
For the poor quality of the stuff under the hood.
Deanne:
Then paying his bill was awkward.
David:
But really his skills were no good.
Rob (breaking the basic rules for Limericks added three lines):
His conscience wasn’t tamed,
Though many of his customers understood,
Those that didn’t would return, touch wood.
Alex:
And decided to vacate the neighbourhood.
Alex:
And said it was the result of his childhood.
Gabby:
That their cars had been left as deadwood.
Chris W:
So he shut up shop and set up in Birdwood.
Amanda:
And now he is without a livelihood.
Chris B:
For the parts they supplied were no good.
Your Turn
Why don’t you try to do it yourself and share it by writing it in the box at the bottom of this page.