LIMERICKS

Limerick: A popular form in children’s verse, the limerick is often comical, nonsensical, and sometimes even lewd. Composed of five lines, the limerick adheres to a strict rhyme scheme and bouncy rhythm, making it easy to memorize. Typically, the first two lines rhyme with each other, the third and fourth rhyme together, and the fifth line either repeats the first line or rhymes with it. The stress pattern is 1.) - / - - / - - / 2.) - / - - / - - / 3.) - / - - / 4.) - / - - / 5.) - / - - / - - /

Apple to Apple Limerick

Green apple said to the red

I love that cute stem on your head

I wish it were mine

it would make me look fine

but mine is unsightly instead

Timidly Yellow spoke up

I'm a humble and petrified pup

Your colors are scary

I have to be wary

I'm afraid I'll end up in a cup

Red, who was fancy and proud

spoke unnecessarily loud

I know I'm the best

and he pumped out his breast

trying to prove he was aptly endowed

Then bi-color started to speak

in a tone neither haughty nor meek

pride, fear or browbeaten

We all will be eaten

there are none of us grossly unique

CINDERFELLA

In a quaint little fairy tale city

Lived a cinder-faced boy and his kitty

His stepfather beat him

his stepbrothers would cheat him

without even one ounce of pity

Every day was the same as the last

warned to finish his household chores fast

so he washed and he mopped

and never once stopped

till the hours of daylight had passed

After scrounging for something to eat

the boy and his cat would retreat

to his space in the attic

which was never traumatic

peeking down at the cobblestone street

One particular night as he spied

he saw danger and loudly he cried

"Get out of the way!"

as a single horse sleigh

and an old man did nearly collide

The old man was grateful indeed

that he'd escaped the horrific stampede

He said to the boy

I will gladly employ

anything that you think you might need

The little lad humble and kind

shook his head as he smiled and declined

I simply ask that

your gift go to my cat

that is of course, if you don't mind

Thus the cat and the old man conversed

and from that day the boy's life reversed

He was not reprimanded

No longer commanded

for his dad and stepbrothers were cursed

For a wizard was strolling one night

when a horse and sleigh gave him a fright

He was alerted in time

by a boy, face of grime

who thought more of his cat than his plight

So a moral comes out of this tale

that if hard work and kindness prevail

There may come a day

that your actions will pay

so upon your cat highly regale