Limerick Day

Today is Limerick Day! Limerick Day celebrates the birthday of Edward Lear (1812-1888), an English writer who popularized these quirky poems. In 1846, Lear wrote the Book of Nonsense, which gained them even more attention. Limerick is the third largest city in Ireland, which is where the name came from.

Limericks have a very specific structure. They are a five-line poem in which the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme. Then, the third and forth lines rhyme. These short, funny, lyrical poems combine nonsensical, sometimes obscene, and humorous themes. Here is one of Lear’s most famous Limericks:

There was a Young Lady whose chin,
Resembled the point of a pin;
So she had it made sharp,
And purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.

To celebrate Limerick Day, read a few funny Limericks, or try writing some of your own. They are guaranteed to make you laugh!