National Limerick Day

The limerick form is probably older than Edward Lear, but he made it famous. Lear (1812-1888) was an English illustrator, landscape painter, and poet who was the 20th of 21 children. He suffered from epilepsy, depression, and a lifelong sense of not fitting in. Writing nonsense verse for children became his private escape from Victorian seriousness.

His Book of Nonsense, first published in 1846 (expanded 1855), contained 110 limericks with his own illustrations. Most began "There was an old man..." or "There was a young lady..." The form had existed before, folk verses, drinking songs, obscene ditties, but Lear's clean, whimsical, child-friendly versions brought limericks into the Victorian drawing room and made them respectable.

The name "limerick" for the form doesn't actually appear in print until 1880, four decades after Lear's first book. The origin of the name is disputed. One theory: a tavern chorus "Will you come up to Limerick?" (the Irish city) was sung between verses, and the form took its name from the refrain. Another: Irish Brigade soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars popularized the form and named it after their home city. No conclusive answer.

Today the limerick is the most recognizable English verse form outside the haiku. A competent writer can produce one in 60 seconds. It shows up in everything from children's books to advertising to obscene drinking games. National Limerick Day on May 12, Lear's birthday, is a quiet, joyful English-speaking tradition. Write one tonight. They're easier than they look.

Four elements of a proper limerick:

Six classic limericks spanning 200 years: