Do you remember the limerick strand we had running for ages on The Other Place?  Some of them were very funny.  Shall we have another go?  I'll kick off with

There was an old lady from Worcester

(pronounced, for the benefit of our colonial friends, Wooster - and therefore perfectly capable of scanning)

There was an old lady from Worcester
who had an affair with a Rooster

There was an old lady from Worcester
who had an affair with a Rooster
The egg that she laid

There was an old lady from Worcester
who had an affair with a rooster.
The egg that she laid
grew up a fair maid

There was an old lady from Worcester
who had an affair with a rooster.
The egg that she laid
grew up a fair maid -
but she'd let out a cluck if you goosed her.

Next please.

There was an old pikey from Totton

There was an old pikey from Totton
whose memory, frankly, was rotton.

There was an old pikey from Totton
whose memory, frankly, was rotten.
Once, boarding a bus,
was surprised at the fuss
till he noticed he hadn't a lot on.

There once was a fellow from Oxnard

There once was a fellow from Oxnard
who invented a potion called Pox-Guard.

There once was a fellow from Oxnard
who invented a potion called Pox-Guard.
which tasted so vile

There once was a fellow from Oxnard
who invented a potion called Pox-Guard
which tasted so vile
that, once in a while,

If no one finishes this tomorrow, I'll damn well finish it myself!

Don't say I didn't warn you!


There once was a fellow from Oxnard
who invented a potion called Pox-Guard
which tasted so vile
that, once in a while,
his stomach would heave and sink socksward.

***

How is it that folks who like writing
find penning a limerick frightening?
Man up!  Post a line -
if it's rotten, that's fine -
if it won't scan, so what? - you won't be struck by lightning!...

It's a strange one, Jo.  Some days there's just nothing there.

Pulling the wings off limericks is cruel