A silver fountain pen in a blank notebook | Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

“Wordle Limerick: Volume 1” by Marshall S. Flam, MD. There are ways to write the perfect limericks to showcase life and tickle some bones.

If you aim to write the perfect limericks, you must read the great ones first. Writing a masterpiece involves knowledge of a subject matter. Learn from the experienced ones and understand how they structure their ideas. One of the best examples to turn to when it comes to limericks is Marshall S. Flam.

Wordle Limericks by Marshall S. Flam, MD, is a compilation of limericks based on the answers of an internet game called Wordle. The limericks in this book provide insights and humor. It also features categories in which readers can choose their word from.

What is a Limerick?

A limerick is a short poem that consists of a stanza with five lines. It follows the AABBA rhyme scheme and fun rhythm. Most of the time, limericks will delve into fun, weird, and hilarious topics that will hook readers with just one stanza. Limericks have been providing entertainment to readers for almost two centuries now.

What Makes a Limerick?

What makes a limerick unique from the other forms of literary works is its power to connect and entertain. The following are characteristics that define a limerick:

  • Limericks contain one stanza with five lines.
  • Limericks follow the AABBA format. This means that the first, second, and fifth lines should rhyme. The third and fourth lines should also rhyme with each other.
  • Limericks follow an anapestic rhythm. Two unstressed syllables are followed by a third syllable that is stressed.

How Does One Write the Perfect Limerick?

If you are aiming to write the perfect limericks, you must follow this simple guide to finally create what you intended to do and entertain your people:

Tell a story

A limerick only has a short stanza to follow through. When you read a limerick, you will notice that it has a main character, a plot, and a resolution. It is like a short story that’s written in five lines. When creating one, don’t forget that you are telling a story.

Introduce Your Subject

Because limericks are short, you need to introduce your subject right away. Establish the main character as you go along in creating the masterpiece. To practice this, you can always start with your name and see how far your creation can go.

Make It Whimsical

Limericks will always have an absurd and whimsical topic and theme. To write the perfect limericks, you must know how to entertain using the whimsicality of your ideas. You can throw in jokes that will make the scenarios even more entertaining.

A face of a rabbit with sunglasses formed by whimsical materials

A face of a rabbit with sunglasses formed by whimsical materials | Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash

Give It a Twist

When you are planning to write the perfect limericks, giving them plot twists will make them more interesting. As a writer, you have all the freedom to provide the twists for your masterpiece. With this, you can hook your readers in and let them get lost in your words of illusions.

Follow the Structure!

Yes! When you write the perfect limericks, you must follow its structure. Again, limericks are supposed to have five lines, following the AABBA format. You can always have a dictionary with you to help you find the perfect word in writing your limerick. In Marshall Flam’s case, he used the Wordle puzzle to get ideas for his work.

Read Your Drafts Aloud!

To write the perfect limericks, you must listen to how it sounds. Read them out loud! This technique should give you a sense of how your limericks can sound to the listeners. Do your words work together?  Have you removed any unnecessary awkwardness from your stanzas? Are you reading a masterpiece? Reading your limericks aloud also helps you in delivering them to give the funny bones a tickle.

Samples from Wordle Limericks

STEED

Sir Gawain rode a trusty steed,

Which ran with incredible speed

But one Gawain’s armor rusted,

The gallant horse was busted.

For on its master’s armor, it had peed

ENEMA

A sensual woman named Emma

Enjoyed the frequent enema

She was never constipated

But they made her feel elated.

Now, isn’t that quite a dilemma?

WORLD

Our world is 6,000 years old

At least, that is what we’ve been told         

But the biblical apostles

Knew nothing of fossils

Something they never to behold.

Notice these samples are following the structure of a traditional limerick. If you want to write the perfect limericks, you can always learn from the masters!

To learn more about World Limericks by Marshall S. Flam, MD

get your copy today!

RECAP!

When you aim to write the perfect limericks, you must learn its basic structure. Limericks follow the AABBA format. As you write, always remember to tell a story, introduce your subject, make it whimsical, give it a twist, follow the structure, and read your drafts aloud. These tips will surely help you create your world in poetry for the funny bones.

Help yourself create the best ones out there by discovering great ideas that have been waiting for you!

Marshall S Flam, MD, is a retired oncologist and hematologist, and the author of "Wordle Limericks: Flamericks." A graduate of MIT, he spent over 40 years in medical practice and education. Flam began crafting limericks in 2022, inspired by his love for the popular game Wordle. This unique collection features 603 limericks, each based on the daily Wordle word, blending humor with insightful commentary. Residing in Fresno, California, and Sun Valley, Idaho, he enjoys tennis, skiing, gourmet cooking, and traveling. Flam is also a proud father of five accomplished daughters and is passionate about sharing laughter through poetry.
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