How to Write a Limerick

A limerick is a silly five-line poem designed to rhyme and make people laugh.

The trick is in the pattern: lines one, two, and five rhyme together, while lines three and four rhyme with each other. The rhythm is bouncy, almost like a jump-rope chant.

Start with a funny idea—maybe a cat who wears a hat or a robot who thinks the sun is too hot. Keep it light, keep it silly, and don’t worry if it sounds a little wacky. That’s the fun of limericks—they’re meant to make you giggle!

Here are a few examples to get you started:

Example 1:
A rabbit went hopping in spring,
Pretending he ruled as the king.
He wore a small crown,
And bounced through the town,
Till mud splashed and muddied its bling.

Example 2:
A boy took his kite out one day,
The spring wind just carried away.
It looped and it spun,
He laughed at the fun,
Then chased it down to a bright field of hay.