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!
#81
My neighbor came over to say
(Although not in a neighborly way)
That he'd knock me around
If I didn't curb the sound
Of the classical music I play.
(Although not in a neighborly way)
That he'd knock me around
If I didn't curb the sound
Of the classical music I play.
unknown
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#82
There was a young girl from Flynn
Who was so terribly thin
When she sipped lemonade
Through a straw in the shade
She slipped through the straw and fell in!
Who was so terribly thin
When she sipped lemonade
Through a straw in the shade
She slipped through the straw and fell in!
unknown
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#83
There once was a man from Gorem
Had a pair of tight pants and he wore 'em
When he bowed with a grin
A draft of air rushed in
And he knew by the sound that he tore 'em!
Had a pair of tight pants and he wore 'em
When he bowed with a grin
A draft of air rushed in
And he knew by the sound that he tore 'em!
unknown
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#84
There was an Old Man in a tree,
Who was horribly bored by a bee.
When they said “Does it buzz?”
He replied “Yes, it does!
It’s a regular brute of a bee!”
Who was horribly bored by a bee.
When they said “Does it buzz?”
He replied “Yes, it does!
It’s a regular brute of a bee!”
unknown
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#85
There was a young belle of old Natchez
Whose garments were always in patchez.
When comments arose
On the state of her clothes,
She replied, “When Ah itchez, Ah scratchez.”
Whose garments were always in patchez.
When comments arose
On the state of her clothes,
She replied, “When Ah itchez, Ah scratchez.”
unknown
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#86
And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink
A soldier’s a man;
A life’s but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.
(canakin = drinking can)
And let me the canakin clink
A soldier’s a man;
A life’s but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.
(canakin = drinking can)
unknown
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#87
There was a young fellow from Belfast
That I wanted so badly to tell fast
Not to climb up the stair
As the top step was air
And that’s why the young fellow fell fast.
That I wanted so badly to tell fast
Not to climb up the stair
As the top step was air
And that’s why the young fellow fell fast.
unknown
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#88
There was an old girl of Genoa
And I blush when I think that Iowa;
She’s gone to her rest,
It’s all for the best,
Otherwise I would borrow Samoa.
And I blush when I think that Iowa;
She’s gone to her rest,
It’s all for the best,
Otherwise I would borrow Samoa.
unknown
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#89
A magazine writer named Bing
Could make copy from most anything;
But the copy he wrote
Of a ten-dollar note
Was so good he now lives in Sing Sing.
Could make copy from most anything;
But the copy he wrote
Of a ten-dollar note
Was so good he now lives in Sing Sing.
unknown
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#90
There was a dear lady of Eden,
Who on apples was quite fond of feedin’;
She gave one to Adam,
Who said, “Thank you, Madam,”
And then both skedaddled from Eden.
Who on apples was quite fond of feedin’;
She gave one to Adam,
Who said, “Thank you, Madam,”
And then both skedaddled from Eden.
unknown
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#91
I know an old owl named Boo,
Every night he yelled Hoo,
Once a kid walked by,
And started to cry,
And yelled I don't have a clue!
Every night he yelled Hoo,
Once a kid walked by,
And started to cry,
And yelled I don't have a clue!
unknown
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#92
I once fell in love with a blonde,
But found that she wasn't so fond.
Of my pet turtle named Odle,
whom I'd taught how to Yodel,
So she dumped him outside in the pond.
But found that she wasn't so fond.
Of my pet turtle named Odle,
whom I'd taught how to Yodel,
So she dumped him outside in the pond.
unknown
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#93
Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one
And down he run;
Hickory Dickory dock.
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one
And down he run;
Hickory Dickory dock.
unknown
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#94
A man and his lady-love, Min,
Skated out where the ice was quite thin.
Had a quarrel, no doubt,
For I hear they fell out,
What a blessing they didn't fall in!
Skated out where the ice was quite thin.
Had a quarrel, no doubt,
For I hear they fell out,
What a blessing they didn't fall in!
unknown
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#95
Said the man with a wink of his eye
"But I love you" and then the reply
From the girl, it was heard
"You are truly absurd!
I have only this moment walked by!"
"But I love you" and then the reply
From the girl, it was heard
"You are truly absurd!
I have only this moment walked by!"
unknown
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#96
There was a young man so benighted
He never knew when he was slighted;
He would go to a party
And eat just as hearty,
As if he'd been really invited.
He never knew when he was slighted;
He would go to a party
And eat just as hearty,
As if he'd been really invited.
unknown
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#97
There was a young lady of Kent,
Whose nose was most awfully bent.
She followed her nose
One day, I suppose -
And no one knows which way she went.
Whose nose was most awfully bent.
She followed her nose
One day, I suppose -
And no one knows which way she went.
unknown
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#98
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, “It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!”
Who said, “It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!”
unknown
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#99
A patient who kept getting worse
Cried out "I must go home now, nurse!
You've done all your best
And performed every test
But I've come to the end of my purse!"
Cried out "I must go home now, nurse!
You've done all your best
And performed every test
But I've come to the end of my purse!"
unknown
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#100
There once was a boy named Dan,
Who wanted to fry in a pan.
He tried and he tried,
And eventually died,
That weird little boy named Dan.
Who wanted to fry in a pan.
He tried and he tried,
And eventually died,
That weird little boy named Dan.
unknown
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