This competition is for fun, open to everyone poet or not, and the more the merrier!
Prize: $200
The limerick
- has to be on the theme of 'origins', even if it's a stretch
- has to follow the proper form for a limerick - 5 lines, with an aabba rhyming structure. If you like a more technical explanation, here's one, borrowed from literary devices.net:
Limerick Definition
Limerick is a comic verse, containing five anapestic (unstressed/unstressed/stressed) lines in which the first, second and fifth lines are longer, rhyme together and follow three metrical feet, while the third and fourth lines rhyme together, are shorter and follow two metrical feet. However, sometimes it may vary and amphibrachic (unstressed/stressed/unstressed) form can replace anapestic. In fact, it is a bawdy, humorous, or nonsensical verse written in the form of five anapests with aabba rhyme scheme. Since it has a special structure and format, it is called fixed or closed form of poetry.
In plainer English, from power poetry.org:
Limerick poems are also called “nonsense” poems because they tell a story that is blunt and humorous with quirky or vulgar words that don’t necessarily make sense. Feel free to make up your own words (Shakespeare did it all the time!) just as long as their meaning is implied.
The first line sets up the character(s) and setting of the poem so the reader knows right away who/what the story is about.
Only five lines long, limerick poems have an AABBA rhyme scheme, which means the first, second, and last lines rhyme while the third and fourth lines rhyme. Pretty simple, right?
Musicality plays a huge role in limerick poems, as they have a bouncy tune when read out loud. The first two lines have eight beats while the third and fourth have six, and the last line again has eight. Many children’s nursery rhymes are limericks because their bouncy rhythm makes them easy to recite. Remember “Hickory Dickory Dock?” Yup, that’s a limerick.
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And here's an example by a literary giant, displaying the AABBA rhyme, featuring made up words and modern concerns, proving you can write a limerick about absolutely anything:
The Marriage Of Poor Kim Kardashian
The marriage of poor Kim Kardashian
Was krushed like a kar in a krashian.
Her Kris kried, 'Not fair!
Why kan't I keep my share?'
But Kardashian fell klean outa fashian.
And from the WiW committee, a local theme:
There was a young fella from Trentham
bought up houses, so he could rent 'em
But karma's a b*tch
He didn't get rich
His wife took his dollars and spent 'em!
So, there you have it, anyone can do it!
How to enter
This competition is intended to be lighthearted and fun. No great poetic skill is required - just have a go, make us laugh!
1. Write your limerick as per the guidelines and include the theme of 'Origins' in some way.
2. Using the entry form here upload it, or post it to
Words in Winter Trentham
Limerick Competition
C/- Post Office,
Trentham VIC 3458
3. The shortlisted entries will be read at the Words in The Pub event on Saturday 5th August (see here) and the winner selected by popular vote.