Limerick
A limerick is a silly poem with five lines. They are often funny or nonsensical.
How to write a limerick:
The first, second and fifth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically
8 or 9). The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables
(typically 5 or 6).
Limericks often start with the line "There once was a..." or "There was a..."
Example of an 8,8,5,5,8 syllable limerick:
There once was a clover named Kate,
Who sat on the edge of a plate,
The fancy folk dined,
On foods of all kind,
Then tossed her at quarter past eight.
History of the limerick:
Limericks were made famous by Edward Lear, a famous author who wrote the "Book of Nonsense" in
the 1800's. This was an entire book of silly limericks.
Limericks aren't Irish (Edward Lear was English) -- but there is a Limerick county in Ireland.
Syllable options for writing a Limerick – be consistent.
Diamante
A Diamante is a seven-lined contrast poem set up in a diamond shape. The first line begins with
a noun/subject, and second line contains two adjectives that describe the beginning noun. The
third line contains three words ending in -ing relating to the noun/subject. The fourth line
contains two words that describe the noun/subject and two that describe the closing
synonym/antonym. If using an antonym for the ending, this is where the shift should occur. In
the fifth line are three more -ing words describing the ending antonym/synonym, and the sixth
are two more adjectives describing the ending antonym/synonym. The last line ends with the
first noun's antonym or synonym.
To make it a bit simpler, here is a diagram.
Line 1: Noun or subject
Line 2: Two Adjectives describing the first noun/subject
Line 3: Three -ing words describing the first noun/subject
Line 4: Four words: two about the first noun/subject,
two about the antonym/synonym
Line 5: Three -ing words about the antonym/synonym
Line 6: Two adjectives describing the antonym/synonym
Line 7: Antonym/synonym for the subject
Example #1:
Rain
humid, damp
refreshing, dripping, splattering
wet, slippery, cold, slushy
sliding, melting, freezing
frigid, icy
Snow
Copyright © 2000 Marie Summers
Example #2:
Kitten
cute, soft
purring, clawing, pouncing
playful, fur, fun, feline
pawing, licking, loving
bright-eyed, beautiful
Cat