Limericks

=Limericks = __ What is a limerick? __

A limerick is a funny, rhyming poem written in five (5) lines. It is named after County Limerick and a popular parlor game that required the players to end a nonsense poem with "Will you come up to Limerick?" The limerick poem was made popular by humorist Edward Lear in England back in the late 1800s. Here are a couple of his poems:

There was an Old Man of Kilkenny, Who never had more than a penny; He spent all that money, On onions and honey, That wayward Old Man of Kilkenny.

* * *

There was an Old Person of Chili, Whose conduct was painful and silly, He sat on the stairs, Eating apples and pears, That imprudent Old Person of Chili.

Check out other examples from Adams Middle School students here!


 * __How to structure a limerick poem:__ **
 * It is five lines long.
 * It has a rhyming structure of AABBA.
 * The first and last line sort of restate the idea and place.
 * It has rhythm too! It sounds like this:
 * da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)
 * da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)
 * da da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)
 * da da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)
 * da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)

**Now you try it!** =Each of you **Upload your work to your Portfolio (O) Drive.** =
 * 1) With a partner, use the Rhymezone rhyming dictionary to help you with the rhyme structure.
 * 2) Together write one limerick (for each template).
 * 3) Hand in your limerick to the In Box

Poetry Home: http://stemlaux.wikispaces.com/Poetry