Limericks

Limericks are poems with a very exact form. They have five lines. The rhyme scheme is AABBA. The rhythm is a "short long short short long short short long short" in the first, second, and fifth lines. In other words, it has three stressed syllables. The second and third have a different pattern. They are "short long short short long." These have two stressed syllables. See the poems below to get the feel of the rhythm. See POETRY TEACHERS.COM http://www.poetryteachers.com/limerick.html This site by Bruce Lansky shows and explains limericks in a very understandable way. This poetic form was made popular by Edward Lear.

What is a limerick, Mother?
It's a form of verse, said brother
In which lines one and two
Rhyme with five when it's through
And three and four rhyme with each other.
Author Unknown

There once was a cowboy named Larry.

He rode on a horse that was scary.

It bucked and it bounced.

It heaved and it jounced.

That rocking horse sure was contrary!

by Kay Pravda

There once was a lady named Jenny.

She had nothing left but a penny.

She went to the mall.

She bought nothing at all.

But she wished that she could buy plenty.

by Jenny G. (student)

There was a young lady named Sue

And now she lives in a shoe.

She went out

To pick a sprout

And instead of one she picked two.

by Jennifer C. (student)

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