How to Write a Limerick

A limerick is a poem written in a certain style where the first, second and fifth lines rhyme and the third and fourth lines rhyme. Three words are emphasized or accented in lines one, two and five, and two words are emphasized or accented in lines three and four. The limerick should be humorous, and the fifth line should act as a punchline. Here's a limerick with the words to be emphasized in capital letters.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start with "There ONCE was an OLD man from ESSER."

2. Say "Whose KNOWLEDGE grew LESSER and LESSER."

3. Recite "It at LAST grew so SMALL"

4. Speak "He knew NOTHING at ALL."

5. End with "And NOW he's a COLLEGE PROFESSOR."

Tips & Warnings

• The history of limericks goes back to the 14th century in England, where they originated as nursery rhymes for children. As limericks are so easy to write, they started being created for fun and earned a reputation for being naughty and obscene. The word "limerick" actually comes from an Irish town of the same name.
• Try writing a limerick and enter it in the League of American Poets limerick contest.
• Shakespeare apparently considered limericks an acceptable poetic device. Limericks can be found in both "Othello" and "King Lear."
• The poetryamerica.com website has a free rhyming tool.
• Be careful when writing a limerick that the last word in the first line rhymes easily with other words, or else your limerick may be very difficult to write.

Resources

• Free rhyming tool and place to enter a limerick or poetry contest.
• More information on limericks.