Limericks PictureLimericks Image

Limericks

Limericks Picture

There are over 1000 examples of limericks available on this great limerick resource which have been sorted into different popular categories. Limericks are short, humorous, clever, witty and funny little poems - a popular form of poetry for kids of all ages!

The limerick dates back to Ireland in the 14th century and are believed to have originated in the old Irish town of Limerick. Enjoy browsing our selection of Limericks - guaranteed to bring a smile to your face! 

Laugh at our Limericks...

Limericks


Origin of the Limericks

How old are Limericks and where did the limerick originate. Why are there so many Irish Limericks? What is the connection with Ireland? Limericks originated as far back as the 14th century and were extremely popular in both England and Ireland. A limerick is a poem and form of poetry which rhymes. They are simple and short and easy for even kids and children to write or compose.

English and Irish Limericks
The term Limerick originates in Ireland - its name is taken from the Irish County of Limerick in Ireland. The Irish are well known for their love of poems and poetry and the Irish Bards played an important part in Irish history. Stories of people and valiant deeds were repeated to hundreds of people using poems and poetry which were passed on from one Irish Bard to the next by word of mouth. The tradition and origins of different types of poems and poetry therefore date back to the time when the majority of people were unable to read or write.  The simplicity of the limerick made them easy to write and easy to remember which has led to their popularity in both the English and Irish culture. Limericks were often composed in taverns, bars and pubs in both England and Ireland - which explains why some limericks are rude, dirty or bawdy in nature! The people who composed this type of poem and poetry were often drunk!

Definition of a Limerick
What is a Limerick? The definition of a limerick is as follows: A limerick is a short poem or piece of poetry consisting of 5 lines. A limerick is written in anapestic or amphibrachic meter with a rhyme scheme of aabba - the letters indicate which lines rhyme. 

Funny Limericks
Everyone laughs at limerick poems and poetry. They are great fun and amuse all ages. One of our favorite funny limerick examples are as follows:

There was a young lady named Perkins,
Who had a great fondness for gherkins;
She went to a tea
And ate twenty-three,
Which affected her internal workin's!

Irish Limericks
The Irish limerick is one of the most famous and suited to the well known and much loved Irish sense of humour. Want to know more about St Patricks day? Lots of interesting information and Fun Facts about St Patricks Day

There was a young girl from New York,
Whose ancestors all came from Cork,
Who possessed an idea
That in order to be queer
She had to eat soup with a fork!

Kids Limericks
Kids limericks are great fun and an easy way to get kids interested in poems and poetry. Because limericks are simple and short it is easy for kids and children to learn how to write limericks.

I'd rather have fingers than toes,
I'd rather have ears than a nose
And as for my hair
I'm glad it's all there,
I'll be awfully sad when it goes!

Famous Limericks
The most famous limericks of all are written by the English Poet Edward Lear. His famous limerick entitled "There once was a man from Nantucket" has been used for the basis of many other limerick poems.

There was a young person of Bantry,
Who frequently slept in the pantry;
When disturbed by the mice
She appeased them with rice,
That judicious young person of Bantry.

 


Limericks by Edward Lear

Edward Lear (12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888) loved the poetic form of the limerick and used this simple rhyming for to great effect. His famous book 'A Book of Nonsense' was a volume of limericks that went through 3  editions and helped popularize the limerick form.
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!'
There was a Young Lady of Portugal,
Whose ideas were excessively nautical:
She climbed up a tree,
To examine the sea,
But declared she would never leave Portugal.

There was an Old Man on a hill,
Who seldom, if ever, stood still;
He ran up and down,
In his Grandmother's gown,
Which adorned that Old Man on a hill.

Sheet Music Downloads plus Audio Files

 

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.
There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all day long;
But they called out, 'O law!
You're a horrid old bore!'
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
The was a Young Lady of Bute,
Who played on a silver-gilt flute;
She played several jigs,
To her uncle's white pigs,
That amusing Young Lady of Bute.
 

Limericks

  • The standard form of a limerick is a stanza of five lines

  • The Limerick was popularized by Edward Lear

  • Simple short Poems and Poetry

  • Suitable poems and poetry for kids and children

  • Hundreds of examples of the Limerick

  • Funny and humorous poems and poetry from Ireland

  • Examples of funny Irish Limericks

  • How to write a limerick

  • Examples of Funny Limericks

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