If you’re running low on limerick ideas, then look no further than the always enchanting animal kingdom. Recently, scientists discovered the first giant living shipworm off the coast of the Philippines. They described its appearance best: “about three feet long and glistening black with a pink, fleshy appendage, it looks like the entrails of an alien from a bad horror film.”
It’s not difficult to imagine the limerick possibilities.
Newspaper editor of the Tennessean, Dixon Lanier Merritt once wrote a limerick inspired by the image on a post card he received from a reader:
A wonderful bird is the pelican.
His bill can hold more than his belican.
He can hold in his beak
Enough food for a week,
But I’m damned if I see how the helican!
Try It: Animal Limericks
Think of animals that make you smile. Bipeds, quadrapeds, giant shipworms! Pick the most limerick-worthy animal you can imagine. Consider the strange and wonderful characteristics of your animal— the things that make you snicker. Channel that laughter and write a limerick for the ages in honor of your chosen critter.
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Featured Poem
Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. We got a kick out of this cheeky limerick from Glynn:
She always thought she was hipper,
Finding booze as more than a sipper.
She walked into a bar
To become a new star
And ended a Bourbon Street stripper.
Photo by Greg Westfall. Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Heather Eure.
Browse more writing prompts
Browse poetry teaching resources
How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.
“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”
—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland
- Poetry Prompt: Misunderstood Lion - March 19, 2018
- Animate: Lions & Lambs Poetry Prompt - March 12, 2018
- Poetry Prompt: Behind the Velvet Rope - February 26, 2018
Glynn says
Heather – thanks for the mention of the limerick. This was supposed to be about family, correct? Well, this is actually a true story.
Donna Falcone says
Glynn, I loved your limerick!
Sandra Heska King says
Me, too!
Heather Eure says
I had an inkling, Glynn. The most memorable family stories are rarely about those who walk an ordinary path. 😉
Donna Falcone says
There was a border collie named Fluffy
Who had his own dog, name of Gruffy.
Gruffy, hands down
Was among them, the clown
While his elder, formal, yet not stuffy.
Sandra Heska King says
So was Fluffy Gruffy’s mama or papa?
Donna Falcone says
Neither. Gruffy was Fluffy’s pet. 😉 hee hee.
Just kidding. Gruffy was Fluffy’s adopted baby brother, both of them rescue animals – twin (rhyming) brothers of different mothers. (Gruffy came with that name – it actually was one thing that caught our eye (ear) 😉
Heather Eure says
Cute, Donna!
Monica Sharman says
One spoiled yellow lab was astute.
She begged at the table for loot.
Dog owner says, “Wait.
People, pick up your plates.”
The humans got booted. Shoot.
Monica Sharman says
Not sure if this limerick is about the dog or about the owners who spoiled the dog.
It’s almost a true story. The real story story is, the dinner guest picked up his plate and left the table to eat in peace elsewhere, and the dog owners just watched and let him leave instead of telling the dog to get out from begging under the table.
Sandra Heska King says
We all know who is actually in charge in a pet household. 🙂
Donna Falcone says
LOL! That’s hilarious!
Heather Eure says
That’s too funny. For some, pets are like their children. But I don’t let my kids beg from the table, either. 😉
Sandra Heska King says
There once was a horse name of Turk
At the end of his rope gave a jerk.
His horn caught, and I gasped
when the clothesline collapsed,
but we saved the owner some work.
Background: Shortly after we started dating, I went home to meet my future husband’s family. He took me to neighbors’ to go horseback riding, but I knew nothing about horses. D saddled his own horse, Turk, and then had me hold the rope while he saddled another horse. I held the end of the rope while Turk just chomped grass. When he reached the end of his rope, he just jerked his head and trotted under the clothesline pulling me along behind him. But when his saddle horn caught on the line, he jumped, and the posts, which were embedded in cement, were uprooted. The owner claimed he wanted them out anyway, relieving my embarrassment. But I’m sure it was a lie. I also feared that might be the end of our relationship.
Donna Falcone says
Sounds like after he reached the end of his rope, you nearly reached the end of yours! LOL!
Sandra Heska King says
D said I was like a feather to Turk. I was afraid our dating days were over.
Heather Eure says
For a moment I thought you knew a unicorn who got tangled up in a clothesline. *sigh*
Sandra Heska King says
There was an iguana named Jake
Who loved hunks of dark chocolate cake.
I offered him tea
and baseball on TV
But instead he dove into the lake.
Donna Falcone says
HA!
(what? Nothing rhymes with POPCORN?)
So, he has a name now. Jake oughta be wearing a muscle shirt, I think!
Sandra Heska King says
There was an iguana named Izzy
Who peeked through the window to see me.
He was looking forlorn
So I offered popcorn
But that threw him into a tizzy.
Donna says
🙂 Brava!
I love how you and Laura Brown (last week) answer a question with a limerick!
Sandra Heska King says
There was an iguana named Bert
On fleek in a green muscle shirt.
With a whip of his tail
This magnificent male
Excited a ‘guana named Gert.
Done. Maybe.
Donna says
uh oh- I smell trouble if Izzy was sweet on Gert.
Sandra Heska King says
Poor Izzy was sad as could be
So he climbed up the lone ficus tree.
He stretched out on a branch
Cuz he hadn’t a chance
Because of Bert’s green muscle T.
Okay… one more…
Heather Eure says
Clearly Jake had no sense of gratitude.
Sandra Heska King says
LOL! Well, at least I got an extra slice of cake. That must count for something.
Heather Eure says
I think it’s lovely how you’ve gotten to know so many iguanas.
Sandra Heska King says
Moving on from iguanas, because… snakes.
There once was a mighty big snake
Stretched out on the concrete to bake.
A cake for a gator?
He shrieked, “See ya later!
That’s one meal that I don’t want to make!”
(BTW, where’s the rest of the limerick team?)