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.
We have Edward Lear, of “The Owl and the Pussy Cat” poem, to thank for limericks. They are fun, and the most concise way of telling a story!
Fancy trying to write one? 
The form is explained in the anonymous poem above: lines one, two and five rhyme with each other, lines three and four rhyme with each other. While it’s a little harder than you might think at first glance, it’s such an enjoyable way to torment yourself, and the end product can amuse, (or infuriate 
) or charm your friends!
If you decide to try your hand at writing a limerick;
1. Post it on your blog
2. Leave a comment here with a link to the post
3. Check the links in the comments, and explore what creative genius is out there!
If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your limerick in the comments here: we’ll still get to enjoy it! Contributions from children in the family are also welcome 
Here’s one I prepared before hand. It was written about my friend, Susan, when I was trying to win my way back into the running for some delectable choc cherry-ripe cake…
There once was a board shepherdess
Who was, I have to confess
A little verbose
but her words were a dose
of instruction inclined to bless!
(There is an alternative reading for the fourth and fifth line, in honour of her Mafia connections, oops! Italian name, which reads..but her words were you know-se ..very inclined to bless)
And this for my friend, Vimal, who has been such an encouragement to me on my Urban Daisy blog.
I have a friend across the sea
Who writes some clever poetry
He writes so fine
That I think mine
Is not fit for him to see 
All right, friends; READY, STEADY…..WRITE!
October 30, 2009 at 9:57 pm
That’s not fair
You can’t get away with lines like that.
Especially since they are not entirely true.
and yours actually is amusing. So I’ll take it as a compliment.
Here’s my link, http://betweenpoles.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/limrix/
October 30, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Oh What fun BB!
Here’s my link, too.
http://mummasplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/limericks.html
October 31, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I have a limerick written just for you – here.
http://homeschooling4christ.blogspot.com/2009/10/there-once-was-woman-named-beyond-blue.html
I hope that you enjoy it.
Blessings,
Jillian
November 2, 2009 at 9:27 am
you did it.
Cool.
i’ll post my limeric tomorrow. cheers
November 2, 2009 at 10:29 am
Vimal, Ruby, and Jillian, thanks for playing! ♡
Richard, I’m looking forward to what your arty self will produce. The subject is open, of course, but please remember my G rated readers
November 2, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I don’t have a blog, so will share my limericks here. For some reason, I made up limericks when my first two children were born.
Quinn Connor Naylor went to the tailor to buy a brand new suit.
The tailor said “Quinn, you’re much too thin
You have to eat more than fruit”
Finnlay Florence Naylor wanted to be a sailor, so she went to sea.
When she got there, she had a great scare.
And came running back to me.
I’m still working on the other children’s limmericks, but finding it harder to think of appropriate things to rhyme with Naylor!
Hmmm, I was definitely postpartum when I came up with these!
Bye for now,
Heidi
November 2, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Heidi,
What a lovely idea! I’m sure your children will be so pleased to have their personal limericks
If you are stuck on the last name issue, perhaps you could break the form a little, and use the middle name as the rhyme, as;
There once was a Naylor named Finlay…
or
A Naylor named Quinn Conner…
It may give you a little more scope
Thanks for playing!
November 3, 2009 at 7:44 am
http://danmihalache.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/edward-lear-a-book-of-nonsense
Best Regards,
Dan
November 3, 2009 at 12:44 pm
here’s my contribution.
.
http://kseverny.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/random-by-kseverny/
November 4, 2009 at 6:54 am
Dan,
Thank you!
I learned a lot
Richard,
Thanks for taking the time to contribute
November 11, 2009 at 10:44 am
Mine is kinda bad, but I made it up this morning. I don’t know how, ‘cuz I stink at writing and thinking up poems. Maybe that’s why this one stinks. Oh, well. I don’t really care. Its probably the best one I’ve written. Maybe not. I don’t know. Well, here’s the link:
http://photophinish.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/limerick/
November 11, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I have an award waiting for you on my blog. ☺
Blessings,
Jillian
November 12, 2009 at 8:10 am
Mel, thanks for playing! I think you did fine
Jillian, thanks for being a lovely blogging friend
November 15, 2009 at 9:30 am
Always liked this one by Lear:
There was an old man at the Cape
Who made himself garments of crape.
When asked “Will they tear?”
He replied, “Here and there,
But they keep such a beautiful shape!”
November 15, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Chris! What a delightful surprise to have you visit here.
Thanks for popping by and contributing the limerick, I hadn’t come across that one before.
November 22, 2009 at 1:05 am
Hello Beyond BlueStockings;
i saw the little fairy
on your avatar
and decided to come over
as fairies
are an enchanting species
and those who love them
are special indeed
i too live in the country
and work the land (a little)
however
your blog is a bit of beauty
i have to say
the lore represented here
is reminiscent of
all things great and small
an interesting little history
by James Herriot
which must be
something you have read
i see my friend
Kokot
has left his tracks behind
and seeing you are a
queen of culinary skills
does not surprise me
your eye with the lens
capturing the essence of your
living experience
is fine to see
i do not wish to bore you
my little fairy friend
have a fantastic day
maybe we will bump into
each other
again
November 22, 2009 at 7:38 am
Dear Ichabod,
What an infinitely more inspiring and generous footprint you have left behind on your travels than I, with my spartan hello.
A country friend is always welcome: I confess had I known, and had you been of a mind to share pictures, I should have been compelled to extend my late night wanderings!
I have, being both a reader and a lover of things outdoorsy, a collection of James Herriot’s writings; and yes, Sir Richard the arty chefy does occasionally grace us with his presence
Thank you for your kind words, and your visit