Fun & Games

The Corinthian Limerick Challenge
Poobah:
Bill Kimbell
Location: TBD
Time: TBD

Rules
:
Write a limerick following the basic 8, 8, 5, 5, 8 syllable format.

  • Minimum one limerick per boat.
  • Maximum one limerick per person.
  • Entrants will be given the chance to expound their gem to the Fleet.
  • The winners will be selected by applause vote at a venue to be selected

Background
A limerick is a funny, nonsensical and often bawdy poem consisting of 5 lines. Limericks were popularized by Edward Lear in his first Book of Nonsense (1846) and a later work, More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc. (1872). The humor is not in the "punch line" ending but rather in the tension between meanings. Bennett Cerf was also well known for his Limericks in the 20th century.

See Ideas for Creative Rhyming

How to Write a Limerick
  • The 1st, 2nd & 5th lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (8 or 9).
  • The 3rd & 4th lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (5 or 6).
  • This type of silly poetry usually begins with “There once was a ...” or “There was a ...”

Example from Bennett Cerf:
There once was a girl from St. Paul,
Who wore a newspaper dress to the ball.
But her dress caught on fire
And burnt her entire
Front page, sports section and all!


Updated: 18 July 2019