December can be a stressful time, and we think that’s a shame. So we’ve rounded up a group of the funniest songs ever, to keep your holidays light (even hilarious).
From opera comedian Anna Russell to Larry the Cucumber in Spanish, from Shirley Temple’s crusade against spinach to Johnny Cash’s lunch-box theft of a full-sized cadillac, this writing playlist should make you smile (and hopefully help you pen a few funny poems or songs of your own!).
Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s a poem from LW Lindquist we enjoyed:
I don’t know how to age
a tree, without cutting it open
to count the rings.
This tree in front of the tan house,
taller than its two stories,
is it older than me?
Did it once watch my yellow hair,
my skinny legs grow,
and cover me while I drank
Kool Aid in July
and tried to decide
whether to follow
my brother
or my sister
around that day.
POETRY PROMPT: Listen to our playlist and think of the last time you had a good belly laugh. Did you guffaw? Chortle? Hoot or howl? Write a poem describing the laughter, knee slaps, or the sounds of people falling out of their chairs. Find clever ways to use onomatopoeia. Share the joyful noise with your words. We could all use a good snort-laugh.
Some tips on writing funny poems, here.
Photo by Susana Fernandez. Creative Commons license via Flickr. Post by Heather Eure.
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Sometimes we feature your poems in Every Day Poems, with your permission of course. Thanks for writing with us!
Browse Funny Poems
Browse more Poetry Prompts
Browse more Poetry Teaching Resources
- Poetry Prompt: Misunderstood Lion - March 19, 2018
- Animate: Lions & Lambs Poetry Prompt - March 12, 2018
- Poetry Prompt: Behind the Velvet Rope - February 26, 2018
L. L. Barkat says
It’s interesting to think about what makes “funny poems.” I think you highlighted one of the best, and that is *sound.*
I also love a little word play 🙂
Richard Maxson says
Your poem was lovely.
What a great playlist! “I Love You Honey” one of my favorites.
I wrote this one around 2008, but revised it for current times. Hope you enjoy.
Have Yourself a Wary Little Christmas
Have yourself a wary little Christmas,
look both left and right,
what runs you down may very well be out of sight.
Keep your Norton anti-virus current,
use h t t p s,
or you’ll end up in a holiday hot mess.
(refrain)
Campaigne ads have been put to rest,
let us say we’re blessed for that.
Poor Goodell and the NFL
keeping cans of worms ‘neath their hats.
Hope New Years you find you’re ten pounds thinner;
There’s an app for that by now.
If not, just wear some clothing that won’t let it show
and have yourself a merry Christmas anyhow.
SimplyDarlene says
do you mean to say
in my neglect for looking both
ways, i might meet
the selfsame reindeer
that ran over granny
as she walked home from
our house that eggnogged eve? rest
assured (and with woolen socks) that should
i encounter the two, i’ll toss a lasso
and ride ’em to the moon – yeehaw!
🙂
Richard Maxson says
Darlene, your comment made me laugh. I haven’t heard that song for years until now. Be careful with those wool socks; they stick to ice and with close to 9 billion folks receiving gifts, Rudolph will be under a lot of pressure with a need for speed. 🙂
Heather Eure says
“…the selfsame reindeer” is my favorite. Gotta find a way to plug that in during a conversation. I might need to be eggnogged first in order to make it work. Ha!
Heather Eure says
Clever, Richard! Here’s to a Merry Christmas anyhow. Ten pounds plus, because COOKIES. 🙂
lynn__ says
Limericks usually bring a chuckle…here’s my attempt:
http://madhatterpoetry.com/2014/12/15/lil-lovin-limerick-1/
Callie Feyen says
I am an 8th grade English teacher, and my students just turned in a project called “Soundtrack of Your Life,” where they were to create an “album” complete with five liner notes telling about five songs that define, resonate, inspire them in some way. My hope was that they would find themselves in the story of the song, whether it’s funny or sad, etc. I want so badly for them to be “partial with the ways of words,” (to quote your “Fifty Ways to Love Your Mother” post). I know this isn’t exactly the same thing as this post, but I had to share. 🙂
Sandra Wirfel says
Oh, what a neat idea, “The Soundtrack of your Life.” Thanks for sharing. I am going to borrow your idea for a future project I am doing at a local library.
Callie Feyen says
Hi Sandra,
I just wrote about it on my blog if you’d like to see more. Also, feel free to email me and I can pass along more details (worksheets, writing samples, etc.)
-Callie
gassingon says
The song wasn’t wrong
to try to be funny
singing words of love
to its latest honey
it tried in vain
to remember her name
when singing this song
of his love for her
and all along
he couldn’t remember her name
oh the shame ….