Comments on: The Limerick packs jokes anatomical ...

The Limerick packs jokes anatomical ...

anastasiav — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:47:52 -0800

Wordcraft, an on-line community of linguaphiles, best known for its extensive collection of eponyms, has taken on a new and fairly ambitious project -- they're trying to rewrite the entire Oxford English Dictionary -- in limerick form. So far they're only on the a's, but they do seem optimistic.
Shamelessly stolen from languagehat's blog

By: raygirvan

raygirvan — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:50:51 -0800

But only clean limericks. Bah!

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 13:02:26 -0800

We do insist that your contributions are: 1. Your own original work 2. Not vulgar, obscene, or otherwise trashy, and 3. In correct limerick format. To be a true limerick, doesn't it have to be nasty? On preview, ditto ray.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 13:06:55 -0800

We wed young and then hit the skids After doing what good sense forbids. We couldn't have guessed it, Though its name should suggest it: Adultery is not meant for kids. Okay, you know what? That's pretty damn good.

By: rocketman

rocketman — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 13:27:15 -0800

This is truly amazing.

By: andrew cooke

andrew cooke — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 14:34:52 -0800

does coldchef's example have the correct rhythm for a limerick when spoken by an american? it doesn't work for me (english). it's not just how it scans, there seem to be too many syllables in the 3rd + 4th lines. two youngly weds soon hit the skids, by doing what good sense forbids, they couldn't have guessed, though the name did suggest, that adultery's not meant for kids. works better for me.

By: livii

livii — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 16:49:19 -0800

Absolutely brilliant. I love it. Although I must concur that at least slight naughtiness should be incorporated in any true limerick.

By: Corky

Corky — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 17:59:06 -0800

This is beyond fantastic! The limerick has always been a favorite of mine... I'm hoping that my linguaphile friends jump on this bandwagon and contribute some winners. Mental gymnastics! This one tickled me... don't know why... action It's years since my last lover Jenny. And prospects since then? Not that many. It's clear "satisfaction" And "younger" and "action" Are three things I'm not getting any!