Do you remember the good old times in grade school when the teacher would ask you to write a fun limerick? If not, consider yourself lucky — I certainly do. A limerick is one of those poetic forms that can only be classified as torture for kids. It’s not like they’re actually bad, but they’re probably one of those things you can only really appreciate when you get older. In fact, as I grew up and started taking a genuine interest in writing, suddenly limericks didn’t sound awful anymore.
If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, here’s a quick refresher on how to write a limerick: they are humorous, five-line rhyming poems that usually keep a silly or absurdist tone. They follow an AABBA rhyme scheme, so the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with one another, while the third line rhymes with the fourth.
Funny limericks are one of the most compact forms of poems. And writing one is also a great way to get started in poetry. They even make for a challenging writing exercise — once you get over the hump of coming up with an idea for one in the first place! If you’re unsure how to begin, let us show you some examples of limericks. These funny short poems, with their bouncy rhythm and absurd themes, may even get you chuckling!
#61
There once was a beautiful nurse
Who carried an ugly old purse
But she tripped on the door
And fell on the floor
And they both went away in the hearse.
Who carried an ugly old purse
But she tripped on the door
And fell on the floor
And they both went away in the hearse.
unknown
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#62
A bather whose clothing was strewed
By breezes that left her quite nude,
Saw a man come along
And, unless I am wrong,
You expect this last line to be lewd!
By breezes that left her quite nude,
Saw a man come along
And, unless I am wrong,
You expect this last line to be lewd!
unknown
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#63
An ambitious young fellow named Matt,
Tried to parachute using his hat.
Folks below looked so small,
As he started to fall,
Then got bigger and bigger and SPLAT!
Tried to parachute using his hat.
Folks below looked so small,
As he started to fall,
Then got bigger and bigger and SPLAT!
unknown
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#64
There was a young lady whose chin
Resembled the point of a pin
So she had it made sharp
And purchased a harp
And played several tunes with her chin.
Resembled the point of a pin
So she had it made sharp
And purchased a harp
And played several tunes with her chin.
unknown
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#65
Limericks I cannot compose,
With noxious smells in my nose.
But this one was easy,
I only felt queasy,
Because I was sniffing my toes.
With noxious smells in my nose.
But this one was easy,
I only felt queasy,
Because I was sniffing my toes.
unknown
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#66
There was an odd fellow named Gus,
When traveling he made such a fuss.
He was banned from the train,
Not allowed on a plane,
And now travels only by bus.
When traveling he made such a fuss.
He was banned from the train,
Not allowed on a plane,
And now travels only by bus.
unknown
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#67
There once was a man from Tibet,
Who couldn't find a cigarette
So he smoked all his socks,
and got chicken-pox,
and had to go to the vet.
Who couldn't find a cigarette
So he smoked all his socks,
and got chicken-pox,
and had to go to the vet.
unknown
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#68
A newspaperman named Fling,
Could make "copy" from any old thing.
But the copy he wrote,
Of a five-dollar note,
Was so good he now wears so much bling.
Could make "copy" from any old thing.
But the copy he wrote,
Of a five-dollar note,
Was so good he now wears so much bling.
unknown
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#69
There is a young schoolboy named Mason,
Whose mom cuts his hair with a basin.
When he stands in one place,
With a scarf round his face,
It's a mystery which way he’s facing.
Whose mom cuts his hair with a basin.
When he stands in one place,
With a scarf round his face,
It's a mystery which way he’s facing.
unknown
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#70
There was a young schoolboy of Rye,
Who was baked by mistake in a pie.
To his mother’s disgust,
He emerged through the crust,
And exclaimed, with a yawn, where am I?
Who was baked by mistake in a pie.
To his mother’s disgust,
He emerged through the crust,
And exclaimed, with a yawn, where am I?
unknown
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#71
A fellow jumped off a high wall,
And had a most terrible fall.
He went back to bed,
With a bump on his head,
That's why you don't jump off a wall.
And had a most terrible fall.
He went back to bed,
With a bump on his head,
That's why you don't jump off a wall.
unknown
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#72
There was a young lady of Cork,
Whose Pa made a fortune in pork.
He bought for his daughter,
A tutor who taught her,
To balance green peas on her fork.
Whose Pa made a fortune in pork.
He bought for his daughter,
A tutor who taught her,
To balance green peas on her fork.
unknown
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#73
There once was a Martian called Zed
With antennae all over his head.
He sent out a lot
Di-di-dash-di-dot
But nobody knew what he said.
With antennae all over his head.
He sent out a lot
Di-di-dash-di-dot
But nobody knew what he said.
unknown
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#74
There once was a girl named Sam
Who did not eat roast beef and ham
She ate a green apple
Then drank some Snapple
Some say she eats like a lamb.
Who did not eat roast beef and ham
She ate a green apple
Then drank some Snapple
Some say she eats like a lamb.
unknown
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#75
A major, with wonderful force,
Called out in Hyde Park for a horse.
All the flowers looked round,
But no horse could be found;
So he just rhododendron, of course.
Called out in Hyde Park for a horse.
All the flowers looked round,
But no horse could be found;
So he just rhododendron, of course.
unknown
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#76
A canny young fisher named Fisher
Once fished from the edge of a fissure.
A fish with a grin
Pulled the fisherman in —
Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.
Once fished from the edge of a fissure.
A fish with a grin
Pulled the fisherman in —
Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.
unknown
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#77
A cheerful old bear at the Zoo
Could always find something to do.
When it bored him, you know,
To walk to and fro,
He reversed it and walked fro and to.
Could always find something to do.
When it bored him, you know,
To walk to and fro,
He reversed it and walked fro and to.
unknown
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#78
The bottle of perfume that Willie sent
Was highly displeasing to Millicent;
Her thanks were so cold
They quarreled, I'm told,
Through that silly scent Willie sent Millicent.
Was highly displeasing to Millicent;
Her thanks were so cold
They quarreled, I'm told,
Through that silly scent Willie sent Millicent.
unknown
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#79
I bought a new Hoover today,
Plugged it in in the usual way,
Switched it on - what a din;
It sucked everything in,
Now I'm homeless with no place to stay.
Plugged it in in the usual way,
Switched it on - what a din;
It sucked everything in,
Now I'm homeless with no place to stay.
unknown
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#80
There was a young lady named Hannah,
Who slipped on a peel of banana.
As she lay on her side,
More stars she espied
Than there are in the Star-Spangled Banner.
Who slipped on a peel of banana.
As she lay on her side,
More stars she espied
Than there are in the Star-Spangled Banner.
unknown
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