A Christmas Cracker Full of Limericks

By Antonio Moretti

This volume is a compendium of almost 400 limericks and nonsense verse for adults and children. Following the success of ‘A Pocket Full Of Limericks’ and ‘Another Pocket Full Of Limericks’, it includes all of the limericks from those first two volumes with more than 100 additional new contributions.

Though the origin of the term limerick is often associated with the city of Limerick or the county in Ireland, the limerick style of poetry was developed in England from the early 18th century. The often skillfully constructed verses are typically humorous or nonsense poems. The final line of a limerick was intended as a punchline, typically a variation of the ending of the first line and winding-up with the same word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9780244342982

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A Christmas Cracker Full of Limericks

A Christmas Cracker Full of Limericks

Antonio Moretti

Copyright Notice

A Christmas Cracker Full of Limericks

Copyright © 2017 by Antonio Moretti

All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers and/or authors.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibilities for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein.

First Printing: 2017

ISBN: 978-0-244-34298-2

Dedication

For my two sons and our giggly times in bygone days.

A Brief Definition and Origin of Limericks

The limerick style of poetry was developed in England from the early 18th century. The often skillfully constructed verses are typically humorous or nonsense poems and generally have a five-line meter with a very strict rhyming pattern (11221). Lines in different limericks can vary in length and so the rhythm should be carefully noted before reciting, often following a practice ‘in the mind’. They are frequently seen in the form of adult varieties, sometimes with lewd and amusing content.

The writer and poet Edward Lear popularized the limerick in the 19th century with his Book of Nonsense in 1845 and in another publication in 1872, however he did not adopt the name. Lear composed 212 limericks in the nonsense style. In that period it was customary for a limerick to accompany a comical sketch or drawing on a similar subject. The final line of a limerick was intended as a punchline, typically a variation of the ending of the first line and winding-up with the same word.

The derivation and source of the term ‘limerick’ for this type of poetry has been discussed regularly. Until recent times it was believed that its first documentation was in 1898 in England and then in America in 1902, but more earlier uses have now been discovered.

The origin of the term limerick is often associated with the city of Limerick or the county in Ireland, and is sometimes connected with the writings of the Maigue Poets who were a group of 18th century Gaelic poets in that district. However, the word might also originate from a traditional parlour game that had a nonsense verse using the refrain Will [or won't] you come (up) to Limerick? A mention in a Saint John, New Brunswick newspaper in 1880 is the earliest known use of the name limerick for this type of poem. It was set to the then familiar tune:

There was a young rustic named Mallory,

who drew but a very small salary.

When he went to the show,

his purse made him go

to a seat in the uppermost gallery.

(Tune: Wont you come to Limerick.)

A Christmas Cracker Full of Limericks

Following the success of ‘A Pocket Full Of Limericks’ and ‘Another Pocket Full Of Limericks’, this volume is a compendium of almost 400 limericks and nonsense verse for adults and children. It includes all of the limericks from the first two volumes with more than 100 additional contributions.

Though many of the limericks herein are admirably suitable for children, there are others that require parental or guardian selection for younger age groups to avoid offence or embarrassment.

The Limericks

An old mountain dweller named Crochet,

stuffed useful things in his pocket,

till he had a bad fright

when a match caught alight

and his trousers went up like a rocket!

Holly at Christmas is nice,

with red berries to add extra spice.

But to sit on a chair

when a twig’s been put there

is something you'll