What is a Limerick?

A limerick is often a funny poem with a strong beat. Limericks are very light hearted poems and can sometimes be utter nonsense. They are great for kids to both read and write as they are short and funny.

The Structure of a Limerick Poem

A limerick consists of five lines.

The first line of a limerick poem usually begins with ‘There was a….’ and ends with a name, person or place.

The last line of a limerick is normally a little farfetched or unusual.

A limerick should have a rhyme scheme of aabba:

This means lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme and lines 3 and 4 rhyme.

Also, lines 1, 2 and 5 should have 7 to 10 syllables and lines 3 and 4 should have 5 to 7 syllables.

Here is my first limerick in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and my handsome and always comical feline Richard (Ricky) Parker!