Well hello there and a happy National Limerick Day to you! Today, being the 12th of May, is actually the birthday of English artist, illustrator, author and poet, Edward Lear (May 12, 1812 – Jan. 29, 1888). This amazingly talented fellow is known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry, prose and limericks.
I’m rather fond of a nonsense poem and I’m sure you’re all familiar with Edward Lear’s ‘The Owl And The Pussy-cat’ and ‘The Jumblies’ poems, to name but a few. Instead, I thought I’d share one of his nonsense limericks, which I found in the book, ‘A Bit Of Nonsense’ by Edward Lear, that we happened to have at home:-
National Limerick Day also celebrates the limerick poem itself of course. “Well, what’s one of those then?” I hear you ask! (I know. I have phenomenonal hearing!) A limerick is a humorous poem consisting of five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines usually have seven to ten syllables. The third and fourth lines only have to have five to seven syllables. Finally, a limerick should have a rhyme scheme of aabba, which means lines 1,2 and 5 rhyme and lines 3 and 4 rhyme. There endth today’s English lesson! 😃
In celebration of National Limerick Day, I’ll leave you with a wee whimsical poem about blackberries, from ‘Posie Pixie And The Torn Tunic’, my 3rd ‘Whimsy Wood’ book. Yes, I know it’s not a limerick, or anywhere near Mr Lear’s literary standards, but it’s the best I can do! 😉
“Blackberries, blackberries on my mind,
I could eat you all the time.
In a pie with vanilla ice-cream,
Or hot with custard. Oh what a dream!
I could warm and squash you into jam,
Then spread you on everything, even ham!
Blackberries, blackberries, I love you,
All bumpy and shiny and purpley-blue.”
Sarah Hill, children’s author and creator of The Whimsy Wood Series.
Leave a Reply