A crazy old man
Sitting atop his throne
Tazing everyone
3 Likes
Squeak squeaky squeaky
Invisible tentacle
Poison from behind
1 Like
A good limerick!
As the dictionary says, the rules for a limerick are 5 lines, with an AABBA rhyme scheme.
Limericks are usually defined by their rhythm, rather than the number of syllables (i.e. the way that a line’s syllables are divided into feet / stresses).
This is either anapaestic, which is 2 unstressed + 1 stressed syllable - ta ta TUM or amphibrachic, which is unstressed + stressed + unstressed: ta TUM ta.
This is Edward Lear’s limerick:
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, ‘It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!’
So it’s written (and read) in a distinctive rhythm / pattern of stresses. Lines 3 and 4 stand out because, though they’re in the same rhythm, the last foot is dropped.
ta TUM ta / ta TUM ta / ta TUM ta
ta TUM ta / ta TUM ta / ta TUM ta
ta TUM ta / ta TUM [pause]
ta TUM ta / ta TUM [pause]
ta TUM ta / ta TUM ta / ta TUM ta.
Versitification like this is a huge headache but it makes much more sense in practice.
Here’s another example by Stanley J. Sharpless:
Prince Hamlet thought uncle a traitor
For having it off with his mater.
Revenge dad or not?
That’s the gist of the plot
And he did, nine soliloquies later.
See how in the last two lines here, there’s an extra syllable at the start so the rhythm appears anapaestic ta ta TUM.
Of course, what I just attempted to explain can be picked up much more easily and with fewer pretty colours by looking at famous e.g.s of limericks. OK children, break time now.
5 Likes
Thank you, I always have difficulty with this format. Although my creative writing teacher said I wrote them well. I just have trouble wrapping my head around it.
1 Like
Like quite a lot of shorter verses they seem easy at first but can be surprisingly fiddly! Haikus sound simple at first but writing a good one is a challenge (there are some impressive examples in this thread… I love @Ganjamira’s especially!)
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Nawwwwww thank you! >.< I never really wrote a haiku before, only one in school years ago - but this is so much fun! Best topic this week!!! 
still working on some atm!
And WOW - thanks for the lesson on limericks! finally I understand the schemata!
Obsidian claws
Wild fur and boundless courage -
A bear for Boldur
3 Likes
Pendles is coming.
Squeaky sneakers barely heard.
Leaves his calling card.
Surfer girl cliché.
Denied alone time again.
Forgot how lungs work.
7 Likes
Artificial soul,
Protecting ghost of our ship.
NOVA, we love you.
6 Likes
Toby needs a nerf
It’s for his own protection.
He’s too cute to kill.
4 Likes
Miko please don’t glare.
No insult was intended.
Cream of mushroom soup…
4 Likes
One night I got drunk…
Said some sh*t I didn’t mean…
Snake boy is my curse.
3 Likes
First sentry is down
The enemy has high ground
Surrender, no thanks
6 Likes
Browsing history.
Ambra takes offense of course.
She yells “Filthy bird!”
4 Likes
Why did they cancel
Arrested Development?
Man, I love their taunts.
3 Likes
Come, try and kill me
As futile as it may be
Boldur laughs at you
Floating towards you
Wield the power of science
Taze until you drop
4 Likes
“War is upon us.
Put aside our fractious past.
Forgive me, old friend.”
“Oh, I don’t think so!
I’d prefer to see you burn
To death. (Horribly.)”
“Your rage is senseless.
I beg you, please end our feud.
Solis needs us now.”
“You call this angry?
Darling, you’ve seen nothing yet.
Please go ■■■■ yourself.”
“I’ve heard quite enough
Of your petulance and hate.
I need you, Ambra.”
“Don’t dare take that tone!
I’ve no tenderness for you.
You are dead to me.”
“We both know the truth.
Claudia, I broke your trust…
And your heart as well.”
“Aren’t you vain today?
As if I could fall for you,
Beauty though you are…”
“Beauty, yes, and wrath.
A hellraiser. Just like you.
Confess how you feel.”
“I feel you’re OP!
With a pull, a stun, a slow,
And a silence too!”
“Don’t change the topic.
Admit that you loved me once.
Face up to yourself.”
“Don’t pretend you care.
All I did was keep you warm…
Yet you betrayed me!”
“It was my loss too.
I miss your heat, your ardor…
Return to my arms.”
“Too late, I’m afraid.
I have a date with Mellka.
Isn’t that right, dear?”
“Um, yeah. I’m not going to reply in some weird-ass haiku, sorry. Your place or mine?”
“You’ve ruined everything. Enjoy your nerf.”
14 Likes
Your buildings are gone
There is nowhere safe to hide
Time to count your bones
2 Likes
Shield applied on time
Homing plasma to the face
Avoid death for now
Metal being of death
Wedded to the cause of life
Reluctant hero
3 Likes
Eldritch unity
Harnessing nature’s powers
Elemental doom.
2 Likes
There once was a Battleborn from Nantucket.
His enemies had to be cleaned up with a bucket.
With crystal blades of Crimson,
He would make lethal incisions,
And cause players to quit and say, “F**k it!”.
5 Likes