Five lines, AABBA rhyme scheme, and almost always funny. Limericks are the barroom jokes of poetry — everyone's heard a few, most are unprintable, and the good ones stick in your head for decades. Lines 1, 2, and 5 are longer (7–10 syllables); lines 3 and 4 are shorter (5–7). The rhythm is anapestic, which gives limericks their galloping, comedic feel.
Five lines, AABBA rhyme scheme, and almost always funny. Limericks are the barroom jokes of poetry — everyone's heard a few, most are unprintable, and the good ones stick in your head for decades. Lines 1, 2, and 5 are longer (7–10 syllables); lines 3 and 4 are shorter (5–7). The rhythm is anapestic, which gives limericks their galloping, comedic feel.
Use our free poem generator to draft a 4. limerick in seconds. Edit, print, or share.
Try the Poem Generator →Five lines, AABBA rhyme scheme, and almost always funny. Limericks are the barroom jokes of poetry — everyone's heard a few, most are unprintable, and the good ones stick in your head for decades. Lines 1, 2, and 5 are longer (7–10 syllables); lines 3 and 4 are shorter (5–7). The rhythm is anapestic, which gives limericks their galloping, comedic feel.
See the structure section above — line count, rhyme scheme, meter, and stanza requirements vary by form.
Start with the structural rules (line/syllable count, rhyme), then focus on imagery and emotional truth. Try our free poem generator for inspiration.