Writing Limericks

 

            St. Patrick's Day is a fine time to study the plain, simple and entertaining form of short poetry, the limerick.

 

            A limerick can tell a story which is often humorous, and sometimes a bit risqué. A limerick often starts with the words, "There once was a. . ." to give a whimsical air to the poem and set the right tone. There's often a "kicker" in the last line that makes you smile with its irony or wit. Often, there will be plays on words, or humorous nonwords devised just to make it come out right.

 

            The first, second and fifth lines of a limerick each have three beats, or accent syllables. They may have eight or nine syllables, typically. These three lines all rhyme.

 

            Meanwhile, the third and fourth lines of a limerick are shorter, with just two beats. Normally, these are indented to differentiate them from the first, second and fifth lines. The third and fourth lines will have five or six syllables apiece, total. These two lines rhyme with a different sound.

 

            It's easy to catch the rhythm if you clap along with the beats in a typical limerick. Here they are in boldface:

 

There once was a miser named Clarence

Who simonized both of his parents;

            "The initial expense,"

            he remarked, "is immense,

But it saves on the wearance and tearance."

                                    -- By Ogden Nash

                                    (note: to "simonize" means to polish, as with wax)

 

            See how Nash made up "wearance" and "tearance" from the common words "wear and tear," in order to rhyme with "Clarence" in the first line, and add humor and sparkle to his little limerick?

 

            Often a limerick will key off someone's name. A custom-written limerick makes a great birthday poem or gift for someone special, and if you can work the honoree's name into the limerick, so much the better. Here's one about me:

 

            There once was a student named Susan

            From whose heart love for limericks was oozin'

                        But in poetry class

                        She got "F's," for alas

            The teacher kept catching her snoozin'.

 

            You might want to invest in a rhyming dictionary if you like writing poetry, and especially limericks. You can get an inexpensive paperback one; ask at a good bookstore. Then you'll see what sounds have the most rhyming words, and are the easiest to carry through on a limerick.

 

            For example, you don't see many limericks with the word "limerick" itself, because hardly anything rhymes with it.

 

            But a word such as "aid" has dozens of rhyming words: blade, glade, grade, jade, laid, made, neighed, paid, shade, afraid, blockade, charade, grenade, mermaid, barricade, cannonade, lemonade . . . and on and on . . . so it's a better choice for making a limerick work.

 

            Here's a good link that explains how to write them:

 

            http://www.poetryteachers.com/poetclass/lessons/limerick.html

 

            And here's a bit of history on a limerick-writing contest:

 

            http://www.yesterdaysisland.com/main_pages/limerick.html

 

By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • After School Treats 015 • © 2006