The limerick, as history would have it, started out as a short little poem. It is made up of five lines of rhyming text. Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme, as do lines 3 and 4.
The syllables and the emphasis on certain beats create a rhythmic sing-song effect when the limerick is being spoken.
The history of about who created the first limerick is debatable and uncertain. However, what is known is that limericks started out in England. Limericks were often used and repeated by the working class and drunkards. The link between these short poems and the Irish city, Limerick, comes from a popular line of a song, often sung by the same class, “Won’t you come up to Limerick?”
Initially, many limericks began as children’s nursery rhymes. Once they were adopted by those under the influence of alcohol, so changed the connotation of the limerick as they poked fun at politicians, governments, upper-class citizens or someone of misfurtune. These bawdy, colorful limericks would made to make you laugh after a long day.
The most historical Limerick moment happened in 1845, when Edward Lear published a book called ‘The Book of Nonsense’ in which he featured 72 limericks. The importance of this moment is due to the fact that this is the first published work of limericks. In his book, you would note each limerick is often accompanied by a mischievous photo. The photo was expected to match the topic of the limerick. A later version, in 1872, updated the earlier work. In total, Lear wrote 212 limericks, mostly nonsense.
So in a place such as Ireland, where the culture places a lot of emphasis on storytelling and socialization, it is easy to see how limericks would fit right in with memorable little story you could tell at the pub or the public market.
But I will finish this blog with my very own limerick titled ”A limerick to Limerick” it is limerick to Limerick and their love for Irish coffee which was invented in Limerick.
The once was an old man from Limerick,
Who always toasted to St Patrick.
He would drink coffees he twined
Especially the Irish kind.
That wonderful old man from Limerick.
The Man In The Pink Hat 