Limerick (poetry)

:This article is about the poetic form. For other uses of the name, see Limerick (disambiguation).

Recurring themes

Ribald verses

Definitely a recurring theme is the indecent subjects of many limericks. It is often considered that the less innocent limericks are amongst the best, and the most common:

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:The limerick packs laughs anatomical

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:Into space that is quite economical.

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::But the good ones I've seen

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::So seldom are clean

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:And the clean ones so seldom are comical.

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Nantucket

The island of Nantucket has also been a recurring theme in limericks, including the following, which is likely the best-known of all poems in the form:

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:There once was a man from Nantucket

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:Who kept all his cash in a bucket.

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::But his daughter, named Nan,

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::Ran away with a man

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:And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

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The current popularity of "Nantucket" in limericks no doubt mostly stems from the possibility to rhyme it with obscenities. It has been suggested, though, that in the past another factor was the popularity of the limerick among whalers.

Related Topics:
Obscenities - Whaler

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Uttoxeter and Exeter

Similarly Uttoxeter and Exeter have been used as the inspiration for hundreds of limericks:

Related Topics:
Uttoxeter - Exeter

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:There was a fair maiden of Exeter,

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:So pretty that guys craned their necks at her.

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::One was even so brave

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::as to take out and wave

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:The distinguishing mark of his sex at her.

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