This document provides instructions for writing a limerick poem. It explains that a limerick has five lines with a rhyming scheme of AABBA, where the first, second and fifth lines rhyme, as do the third and fourth. It gives an example of writing the first two lines using a name and rhyming word. It then provides guidance on writing the next two lines to continue the story and ensure the rhyme. The final line returns to the original rhyme.

1. How to Write a Limerick
There was a young man from Lahore,
Who had quite a stinky back door,
With a huff and a puff,
He did a big guff,
And crapped all over the floor.
Source – www.netmums.com - 2010

2. • Pick a boy’s or girl’s name that has one syllable
– examples Bill, Tim, Dick, Sue, Jill.
There once was a young girl (or young boy)
named ____
So the first line is:
’There once was a young girl named Jill.’
How to Write a Limerick
adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce LanskyPoemhowtowritealimerick.ppt/poetry/englishabc ldrt – englishabc - 2015

3. • Make a list of words that rhyme with the last word in the first
line— example Jill.
One list of rhyming words might be: hill, drill, pill, skill, bill,
will, and ill.
• Write the second line using one of the rhyming words.
How to Write a Limerick
adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce LanskyPoemhowtowritealimerick.ppt/poetry/englishabc ldrt – englishabc - 2015
Here’s an example:
‘Who freaked at the sight of a drill.’
(Note that the last words in the first two lines rhyme and that both the
first and second lines contain 3 DUMS or beats.)

4. • Think of an interesting story. What could happen to
someone scared of a drill? What about ‘going to the
dentist?’
• Here’s a suggestion – Add the third and fourth lines.
‘She brushed every day.’
‘So, her dentist would say,’
(Note that “day” and “say,” the last words, both rhyme. Note that
there are 2 DUMS or beats in each line.)
How to Write a Limerick
adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce Lansky ldrt – englishabc - 2015

5. • Return to the list of earlier rhyming words - hill, drill, pill, skill, bill,
will, and ill. Find one that can end the poem. Here’s an example:
• Here’s the poem we just wrote:
There once was a young girl named Jill.
Who was scared by the sight of a drill.
She brushed every day
So her dentist would say,
“Your teeth are so perfect; no bill.”
Now try writing one yourself!
How to Write a Limerick
Poemhowtowritealimerick.ppt/poetry/englishabc adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce Lansky ldrt – englishabc - 2015
”Your teeth are quite perfect. No bill.”