# Loopy Limericks **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [February 8, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149 "2015-02-08T21:37:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/242 "2015-02-19T05:45:57Z")
No, limericks don’t have to have a specific meter. Check out those written by professionals and you will see considerable variation. However, as I had pointed out previously in the thread - \*\*\*The first, second, and fifth lines must have seven to ten syllables (‘beats’) while rhyming and follow the same verbal rhythm. The third and fourth lines customarily have only five to seven syllables, and have to rhyme with each other and have the same rhythm. \*\*\* Many of the lines suggested here don’t conform to this ‘rule’, but, believing it correct, I am trying to encourage this. I realise that the one you finished doesn’t adhere to that pattern - but you wrote it. You might notice that the second line I have supplied above pretty much matches yours in rhythm. What would you have written if you could’ve followed it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/243 "2015-02-19T05:55:41Z")
I don’t know a great deal about poetry and “feet” and meter. But I know what sounds pleasant to my ear. I just looked up some web pages talking about the meter of limericks and yes, it appears there is not any hard and fast rule about the number of syllables. But all of the limericks used as examples in the pages I read seemed to have the proper “beat” and “flow” even if the number of syllables differed. I was just reacting to how some of the limericks here, and some others I’ve read, just don’t seem to “feel” right. Perhaps I’m just missing something. I was just wondering if anyone else got the same impression of “somethings just a little off” in some of these limericks. Not complaining, just trying to learn more about what is considered acceptable and good form. I didn’t write the whole limerick of course, just the final line as this thread is all about a collaborative effort. I thought my final line fit the proper meter but maybe I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/244 "2015-02-19T06:24:17Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I don’t know a great deal about poetry and “feet” and meter. But I know what sounds pleasant to my ear. I just looked up some web pages talking about the meter of limericks and yes, it appears there is not any hard and fast rule about the number of syllables. But all of the limericks used as examples in the pages I read seemed to have the proper “beat” and “flow” even if the number of syllables differed. > > I was just reacting to how some of the limericks here, and some others I’ve read, just don’t seem to “feel” right. Perhaps I’m just missing something. I was just wondering if anyone else got the same impression of “somethings just a little off” in some of these limericks. Not complaining, just trying to learn more about what is considered acceptable and good form. > > I didn’t write the whole limerick of course, just the final line as this thread is all about a collaborative effort. I thought my final line fit the proper meter but maybe I was wrong. I totally agree what you’re saying about ‘beat and rhythm’. And this is exactly what I’m saying too. The test for any line is essentially that it sounds ‘right’. Really, the writer of the first line sets the rhythm pattern for the whole limerick and as part of the ‘game’ it is hoped that each contributor adheres to this pattern. It is true that many of the efforts so far don’t always conform, and this grates on my ears too. I suppose this is inevitable in the way the game is structured - with five potential different contributors per limerick. However, I applaud the efforts on the part of the many who show interest and ‘get’ the idea of what limericks are about, and hope that those who don’t, eventually become enlightened. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/245 "2015-02-19T06:26:03Z")
> [@Orson\_Carte](#): > > I totally agree what you’re saying about ‘beat and rhythm’. And this is exactly what I’m saying too. > Really, the writer of the first line sets the rhythm pattern for the whole limerick and as part of the ‘game’ it is hoped that each contributor adheres to this pattern. > It is true that many of the efforts so far don’t always conform, and this grates on my ears too. I suppose this is inevitable in the way the game is structured - with five potential different contributes per limerick. > I applaud the efforts on the part of the many who ‘get’ the idea of what limericks are about, and hope that those who don’t become enlightened. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/246 "2015-02-19T06:38:31Z")
We’d better get this back on track; Feel free to write line three. (I can’t, having entered the second). OC. ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/247 "2015-02-19T07:02:35Z")
At breakfast one day in New Hampshire We sat bleary-eyed 'round the campfire. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/248 "2015-02-19T07:05:52Z")
At breakfast one day in New Hampshire We sat bleary-eyed 'round the campfire. Relating our sins ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/249 "2015-02-19T07:41:27Z")
At breakfast one day in New Hampshire We sat bleary-eyed 'round the campfire. Relating our sins And rattling our tins ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/250 "2015-02-19T09:26:04Z")
At breakfast one day in New Hampshire We sat bleary-eyed 'round the campfire. Relating our sins And rattling our tins While dining on hotdogs and samphire. A limerick should have five lines ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/251 "2015-02-19T11:43:00Z")
A limerick should have five lines With haiku, just three would be fine ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/252 "2015-02-19T11:46:01Z")
A limerick should have five lines With haiku, just three would be fine The meter should scan ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/253 "2015-02-19T15:12:14Z")
A limerick should have five lines With haiku, just three would be fine The meter should scan (At least, that’s the plan) ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/254 "2015-02-19T19:00:22Z")
A limerick should have five lines With haiku, just three would be fine The meter should scan (At least, that’s the plan) And a measure of humour and rhyme. On Ev’rest there lived a young yeti ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/255 "2015-02-19T19:40:35Z")
On Ev’rest there lived a young yeti Who craved meatballs and spaghetti ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/256 "2015-02-19T20:01:37Z")
On Ev’rest there lived a young yeti Who craved meatballs and spaghetti But pasta is rare ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/257 "2015-02-19T20:18:03Z")
> [@Orson\_Carte](#): > > On Ev’rest there lived a young yeti > Who craved meatballs and spaghetti > But pasta is rare So he grabbed his hair ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/258 "2015-02-19T20:24:16Z")
On Ev’rest there lived a young yeti Who craved meatballs and spaghetti. But pasta is rare So he grabbed his hair ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/259 "2015-02-19T20:33:37Z")
On Ev’rest there lived a young yeti Who craved meatballs and spaghetti. But pasta is rare So he grabbed his hair And chopped it up into confetti. The vampires all come out at night ---
**Author:** ![Orson\_Carte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Orson\_Carte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orson_Carte)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/260 "2015-02-19T20:47:14Z")
The vampires all come out at night They’re suckers for a late-night bite ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149/261 "2015-02-19T20:57:22Z")
The vampires all come out at night They’re suckers for a late-night bite. Their favourite by far, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopy-limericks/712149.md?page=14)