The old thread on this subject has gotten WAY too long, so I'm starting it over. I'd also like to take this time to remind participants of the limerick form, as lately it's been drifting more into five-line poetry.

There are two essential components: syllables and rhyme scheme. These two elements are what makes a limerick a limerick.

A limerick is in the AABBA form. That means that the first two and last line rhyme with each other, as does the third and fourth line. So, 125 and 34 rhyme.

These two sets of lines are distinctive again in that the 125 set comprises three metrical feet (or 9 syllables), while the 34 set comprises two metrical feet (or 6 syllables). So, 125 is 9 syllables and 34 is 6.

To sum up:

-Lines 1, 2 and 5: Rhyme together, nine syllables/three metrical feet.
-Lines 3 and 4: Rhyme together, six syllables/two metrical feet.

I tried to include the Wikipedia page for those who are interested in more examples and links, but it won't let me because of how the page title is structured.

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To begin this new game, here's a first line:

There was a lightkeeper from Truro,

Greg, I was wondering when you were going to shut down the original Limerick tread.


There was a lightkeeper from Truro,
Who prefered a cowboy hat instead of a feduro,

There was a lightkeeper from Truro,
Who sat by the cliff with friend Thoreau,

~Judy
Sorry Loon, my turn to fix...

Judy,
A bit confused with the pronunciation of both "Truro" & "Thoreau"? I was pronouncing Truro like it would rhyme with "Euro". That's how I came up with "Feduro", as in the type of hat.

The major fix was to the metric, Loon.
You were using 15 instead of nine.

As to the rhyming, I believe Truro & Thoreau do rhyme. He btw also happened to be a frequent visitor to the Highlands, Cape Cod, so it was a natural.

Greg as moderator is reminding us that a limerick follows specific rules with both rhyme and metric. Otherwise, it's just a five line rhyme.

I tried to just reword your line, and couldn't, so I went with a new thought.

Judy

There was a lightkeeper named Truro,
Who sat by the cliff with his friend Thoreau.
Watching the huge waves crash.

There was a lightkeeper named Truro,
Who sat by the cliff with his friend Thoreau.
Watching the huge waves crash,
With a bang and a splash

There was a lightkeeper named Truro,
Who sat by the cliff with his friend Thoreau.
Watching the huge waves crash,
With a bang and a splash
Then the wind blew off his feduro.

There was a horseman from Tarrytown,

There was a horseman from Tarrytown,
Who rode with the wind along the sound,

~Judy
nice finish to the last one, Loon!

There was a horseman from Tarrytown,
Who rode with the wind along the sound,
Creating quite a scare,

There was a horseman from Tarrytown,
Who rode with the wind along the sound,
Creating quite a scare,
Look out, look out, Beware!

There was a horseman from Tarrytown,
Who rode with the wind along the sound,
Creating quite a scare,
Look out, look out, Beware!
Cause Ichabod Crane may be around.

There was a tall beacon on the coast,

There was a tall beacon on the coast,
The keeper there was a super host,

There was a tall beacon on the coast,
The keeper there was a super host,
Bed and breakfast anyone?

There was a tall beacon on the coast,
The keeper there was a super host,
Bed and breakfast anyone?
Climb the tower for fun,

~Judy

There was a tall beacon on the coast,
The keeper there was a super host,
Bed and breakfast anyone?
Climb the tower for fun,
Right after we have our eggs & toast.

From the lighthouse I could see a ship,

From the lighthouse I could see a ship,
Traveling at a very fast clip

From the lighthouse I could see a ship,
Traveling at a very fast clip
Using my telescope,
~Judy

From the lighthouse i could see a ship,
Traveling at a very fast clip,
Using my telescope,
I saw them coiling rope,


(I thought it more fun the other way...5 line rhyme)

It was Debbie. Maybe we should start another thread for lighthouse related rhymes.

Judy

When was it ever a 5 line rhyme? I call the old way we were creating them - "Freestyle Limericks".

The offical way is more challenging, both not as fun as the original limerick tread.

"Freestyle Limericks"... I like the sound of that! O.K. Judy...I think that we should...so I will!

From the lighthouse I could see a ship,
Traveling at a very fast clip,
Using a telescope,
I saw them coiling rope,
Raise the sails, Full speed boys! said the "Skip"

The gale sent the spray up the tower tall,

The gale sent the spray up the tower tall,
You could here the winds call,

The gale sent the waves up the tower tall,
You could hear the winds call.
This was going to be a Nor'Wester for sure!

If my CF buddies don't mind, here's an attempt at fixing our latest:


The gale sent the waves up the tower,
It was a Nor'Wester with power,
You could hear the winds howl,
The timing was very fowl,

The gale sent waves up the tower,
It was a Nor'Wester with power,
You could hear the winds howl,
The timing was fowl,
All the Keeper could do was glower.

Lens went dark at the midnight hour,

Lens went dark at the midnight hour,
Sending the keeper up the tower.

Lens went dark at the midnight hour,
Sending the keeper up the tower.
Ships need the light always,

~Judy

Lens went dark at the midnight hour,
Sending the keeper up the tower.
Ships need the light always,
More at night then the days,

Lens went dark at the midnight hour,
Sending the keeper up the tower.
Ships need the light always,
More at night then the days,
So he better restore the power.

I took a lighthouse tour to Split Rock.

I took a lighthouse tour to Split Rock.
At the museum door I knocked.

~Judy

I took a lighthouse tour to Split Rock.
At the museum door I knocked.
As the door opened up,

I took a lighthouse tour to Split Rock.
At the museum door I knocked.
As the door opened up,
We saw the keepers pup,

I took a lighthouse tour to Split Rock,
At the museum door I knocked.
As the door opened up,
We saw the keeper's pup,
In his mouth was the keeper's old sock.

The sun shone brightly on the calm sea,

The sun shone brightly on the calm sea,
As we sat under a big palm tree,

The sun shone brightly on the calm sea,
As we sat under a big palm tree,
With a cold drink in hand,

The sun shone brightly on the calm sea,
As we sat under a big palm tree,
With a cold drink in hand,
Our toes buried in sand,

The sun shone brightly on the calm sea,
As we sat under a big palm tree,
With a cold drink in hand,
Our toes buried in sand,
There is no place we would rather be!

There was a sailor in the Navy,

There was a sailor in the Navy,
He liked his biscuits and gravy,

There was a sailor in the Navy,
He liked his biscuits and gravy,
After that a cold beer,

There was a sailor in the navy,
He liked his bisquits and gravy,
After that a cold beer.
And then bedtime was near,

There was a sailor in the navy,
He liked his bisquits and gravy,
After that a cold beer.
And then bedtime was near,
And usually slept liked a baby.

~Judy

There was a brave seafaring Coastie,

~Judy

There was a brave seafaring Coastie,
His coat made him feel very toastie,

There was a brave sea-faring Coastie,
Whose coat made him feel very toastie,
When the cold North wind blew,

There was a brave sea-faring Coastie,
Whose coat made him feel toastie,
When the cold North wind blew,
Some strong tea he would brew,

There was a brave sea-faring Coastie,
Whose coat made him feel toastie,
When the cold North wind blew,
Some strong tea he would brew,
Then a hot dinner he would roastie!

I made the long trip across "The Pond",

I made the long trip across "the Pond"
To a land of which I am so fond,

We made the long trip across "the Pond"
To a land of which I am so fond,
We're feeling a bit slow,

We made the long trip across "the Pond"
To a land of which I am so fond,
We're feeling a bit slow,
Some rest and then we'll go,

We made the long trip across "the Pond",
To a land of which I am so fond,
A bit slow on landing,
The sea was demanding,

We made the long trip across "the Pond"
To a land of which I am so fond,
We're feeling a bit slow,
Some rest and then we'll go,
After all this the land of James Bond!

or

We made the long trip across "the Pond",
To a land of which I am so fond,
A bit slow on landing,
The sea was demanding,
But this wouldn't happen to James Bond!

On my spring vacation in Key West,

On my spring vacation in Key West,
I planned to get a needed rest,

On my spring vacation in Key West,
I planned to get a needed rest,
With lighthousing my goal,

~Judy

On my spring vacation in Key West,
I planned to get a needed rest,
With lighthousing my goal,
And good rest for the soul,

On my spring vacation in Key West,
I planned to get a needed rest,
With lighthousing my goal,
And good rest for my soul,
I can go back home feeling my best!

Went to a lighthouse on the Great Lakes,

Went to a lighthouse on the Great Lakes,
Bringing our hammers, shovels, and rakes,

Went to a lighthouse on the Great Lakes,
Bringing our hammers, shovels and rakes,
A "yummy" picnic lunch,

Went to a lighthouse on the Great Lakes,
Bringing our hammers, shovels and rakes,
A "yummy" picnic lunch,
Meet the rest of the bunch,

Went to a lighthouse on the Great Lakes,
Bringing our hammers, shovels, and rakes,
A "yummy" picnic lunch,
Meet the rest of the bunch,
To save a lighthouse for all our sakes!

Sunday is Mother's Day-show her love,

Sunday is Mother's Day-show her love,
May she be on earth or up above,