How to Write a Limerick

There once was a fellow named Jerry, Who sought to write limericks for Mary. Perplexed, our dear poet With eHow's help wrote it ' And Mary he later did marry.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dictionaries
• Poetry Books
• Rhyming Dictionaries
• Thesauri
• Pencils
• Paper
• Pens

1. Prepare to write five lines of verse. If you're stumped, try starting off your limerick with the traditional 'There once was a ...'
2. Create the following stress pattern in lines one, two and five: da-DA da-da-DA da-da-DA da. For example, "There ONCE was a FEL-low named JER-ry...." You can omit the last unstressed syllable if you prefer.
3. Create the following stress pattern in lines three and four: da-DA da-da-DA da. For example, "Per-PLEXED our dear PO-et." As before, you have the option of omitting the last syllable.
4. Make sure your limerick's rhyme scheme is a-a-b-b-a. In other words, the first, second and fifth lines all rhyme with one another; the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other.
5. Exploit puns and wordplay.

Tips & Warnings

• The racier, the better. Limericks are notoriously bawdy and obnoxious.
• The last line should deliver a punch, be it surprising, funny or naughty.