Let’s celebrate! National Poetry Month.

April is National Poetry Month. Let’s celebrate!

Poetry is one of those things every writer should try to tackle.  Whether you enjoy Rap, James W. Riley, Shakespeare, Frost, or Angelu, there is always some part of poetry that touches a person’s heart. Since April is set aside to be the month we celebrate Poetry, I thought we could explore some of the types of poetry.

My favorite type of poem to write is the Limerick (see my March 3, 2019 post). A Limerick is a short, comical poem that often borders on the nonsensical or obscene. They are fun to write and to read, as they are meant to make your readers laugh.

The Limerick consists of five lines that rhyme in an AABBA pattern. That is: The first, second, and fifth lines’ last words (A) should rhyme with each other. The third and fourth lines’ last word also rhyme but with a different word (B) than the other three lines. In addition the Limerick has a specific meter to it. The meter refers to the number of beats, or stressed syllables, in each line.  (You can also use “da” for unstressed syllables and “DUM” for stressed syllables.) The meter will look like:

• Line 1: Three stressed syllables (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)
• Line 2: Three stressed syllables (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)
• Line 3: Two stressed syllables (da DUM da da DUM)
• Line 4: Two stressed syllables (da DUM da da DUM)
• Line 5: Three stressed syllables (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)

Example:

Limericks to write are such fun!

(da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)

You’ll smile like eating a cinnamon bun.

(da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)

AA BB A is the trail.

(da DUM da da DUM)

With that you’ll never fail.

(da DUM da da DUM)

Do try your hand at rhyming one.

(da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)

 

 Here’s one I did just for April Fools’ Day.

April Fool Limerick

There once was a girl who said with dismay

I swear I saw an elephant today.

It was walking down by the railroad track

A lion, a giraffe and a bear in a pack.

“April Fool”! Said she. As they rushed to see the display.

 

I’d love to see your efforts at trying to write a Limerick. Comment Below.