Ready to try some limericks of your own? Here are some first lines you can use to get you started if you want.

• He was an unusual boy
  

• There once was a very old dog
  

• A beautiful girl in my town
  

• There was a young woman whose head
  

• Two poets who couldn't agree

How to write a limerick: more ideas

1) Get into the rhythm: Start by reading a limerick out loud several times until you have the rhythm in your head.

2) Think of a punchline: Many limericks end with a twist or punchline, like a joke. It might be easier to write the last line of your poem first. Then you can write the rest of the poem to build towards that final line.

3) Introduce a character: Classic limericks often start with a person, and sometimes a place. For example, "There once was a woman from Spain..."

4) Be playful: Many limericks are funny, silly or surreal—that's part of the tradition. Bonus points if you include a pun!

There was a Young Lady whose eyes,
Were unique as to color and size.
When she opened them wide,
People all turned aside,
And started away in surprise.

Example 2

There was an Old Person of Dover,
Who rushed through a field of blue Clover;
But some very large bees,
Stung his nose and his knees,
So he very soon went back to Dover.