This past week, I’ve enjoyed the exchange of limericks and repartée immensely. Normally, I’m not a frequent writer of limericks. I will pen them from time to time, because some occasions call for little else beside a limerick. (Furthermore, time spent writing and refining a limerick is minimal compared to writing other poetic forms. Doing a quick-write limerick is handy if and when needed!)
Edward Lear was among the best limerick writers. In the instance below, his visual presentation adds so much to the overall effect.
Today, I thought I’d continue the limerick entertainment with a couple of my creations, definitely low-brow. Wikipedia mentions that some limerick champions were known to consider the form best for conveying obscene humor. In fact, according to at least one who excelled in the form, the words “always obscene” are applied.
I prefer the limerick description Poets.org presents: a form of children’s verse that is comical, nonsensical and sometimes even lewd (accepting lewd in a youthful context as naughty or mischievous, rather than pornographic or profane). Personally, I’d never be able to justify exposing a child to porn or obscenity, but I acknowledge their propensity to enjoy gross, potty-related humor.
As to these two limericks, they are about as ribald as I allow myself to be. I’ve learned in writing poetry the unsaid may be inferred and is usually more effective by inference.
That handsome man in the picture is my Beloved … loving on his ten-year-old black labrador. I love one of them, just tolerate the other; I hope it’s not too hard to figure out which!
Poetry class in college
was where I thought there’d be knowledge
of beautiful words with tempo and rhyme
but instead what I read gave me hives.
Too bad. That’s the kind of thing that ruins appreciation of poetry.
Oh, I didn’t mean it really happens. I just used “hives” because it rhymed. ☺️
Sorry, I noticed the college and knowledge but missed the near- rhyme of rhyme and hives. (My point about some teachers ruining poetry for students still stands.)
“Rhy” and “hi” rhymes quite well me thinks. And my poetry prof was a good teacher.
Glad to know your poetry prof was a good teacher! A gem who should be praised!
Re-reading this, I know what threw me. Your second line says “where I thought” and that seemed to hint at disappointment. I guess I was reading too much into it.
I’m sure you’ve read (and may have even written) many teen angst poems. I went to college late in life, I was 46-years old, and had to endure reading sessions in poetry class.