ticket2write

Limerick
Home
Manuscript Preparation
The Structure of the Novel
Plotting the Mystery Novel
Categories of Mysteries
Romance Novels
Category Romance
Story Checklist
Glossary of Poetry Terms
Critiquing Poetry
Journaling
Conferences
Poetry Markets (UK)
Poetry Markets A
Poetry Markets B
Poetry Markets C
Poetry Markets D
Poetry Markets E
Poetry Markets F
Poetry Markets G
Poetry Markets H
Poetry Markets I
Poetry Markets J
Poetry Markets K
Poetry Markets L
Poetry Markets M
Poetry Markets N
Poetry Markets O
Poetry Markets P
Poetry Markets Q
Poetry Markets R
Poetry Markets S
Poetry Markets T
Poetry Markets U
Poetry Markets V
Poetry Markets W
Poetry Markets X
Poetry Markets Y
Poetry Markets Z

A Limerick is a rhymed humorous or nonsense poem of five lines which originated in Limerick, Ireland.   

The Limerick has a set rhyme scheme of : a-a-b-b-a with a syllable structure of: 9-9-6-6-9

The rhythm of the poem should go as follows:

Lines 1, 2, 5: weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak - Lines 3, 4: weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak

This is the most commonly heard first line of a limerick: "There once was a man from Nantucket."

Example #1:
 
The Test Pilot
 
A Plane builder needed a pilot,
So Bob told the guy, he would try it.
When Bob took to the air,
Plane parts fell everywhere.
Bob radioed “where shall I pile it?”
 
Copyright © 2005 Jim Dupy
 

Example #2:
 
The Man From Aruba
 
There once was a man from Aruba,
Whose favorite hobby was scuba.
Every day he would wish,
He could spear a big fish.
But settled instead for canned tuna.
 
Copyright © 2005 Jim Dupy