Daddio: 5/26/2011 Blog of the Day

Okay guys.  Last time we tried this (about a year ago)--- it was a struggle.  So now that you've had more practice with writing poetry, we'll take another swipe at it.  That's right.  We're going to try writing limericks again.

A limerick is normally a humorous poem that has five lines and a special rhyme and rhythm pattern:

Rhyme Pattern: The last words of the first, second, and fifth lines all rhyme with each other. We’ll call those rhyming words “A,” however the words could be “ Peru,” “shoe,” and “true” as illustrated in the first poem below or “Tim,” “swim,” and “him” as illustrated in the second poem below. And the last words of the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. We’ll call those rhyming words “B,” however the words could be “night” and “fright” in the first example or “dock” and “rock” in the second example.

Rhythm Pattern: The first, second, and fifth lines all have this rhythm pattern: da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (notice there are 3 DUMS or beats). Say, “There once was a fellow named Tim” out loud. Now say, “da DUM da da DUM da da DUM” out loud. Notice that both have the same rhythm. The third and fourth lines have a different rhythm pattern: da DUM da da DUM (notice there are 2 DUMS or beats). Say, “He fell off the dock” out loud. Now say “da DUM da da DUM” out loud. Notice that both have the same rhythm.

Here's an example of a limerick:

There was an old man from Peru
who dreamed he was eating his shoe.
He awoke in the night
with a terrible fright,
and found out that it was quite true.

So try writing your own limerick.  It can be about any subject you want, but it has to follow the rhyme and rhythm patterns described above.

Today's blog subject was suggested by Gabe.  Thanks for the help, dude.