Category: Poetry

April 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of April 2026.

Cape

With a cape, funny clothes, I will fly
doing good as the bad guys go by.
Some will change. Some will not.
Some get burned. Some have got
nary one good excuse not to cry.

Prompt word: “cape” April 6, 2026

The soft clouds are bright orange in the sky as the sun gives a nod of good-bye.

Trying To Scream In A Dream

Though I thought it might help if I’d scream,
but caught as I was in a dream
a scream couldn’t come out,
no, not even a shout,
and right now I’ve forgotten that dream.

Prompt word: “scream” April 13, 2026

Look how red they are now. See the sound of a wow.

Help!

Like some rocks in a black and blue box
I discovered the truth of hard knocks.
Being knocked all about
I had no breath to shout
except, Help! Get me out of this box!

Prompt word: “box” April 20, 2026 (modified)

See how peacefully fades the red sky.

Floor, Door, More

As I stand on the solid wood floor,
as I walk to the open wood door,
there is more there to see,
but I don’t being me.
Let me change. Ah! Just did! I see more!

Prompt word “floor”: April 27, 2026

March 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of March 2026.

Kiss Like This

There is bliss when a kiss doesn’t miss
though that snake in the grass loves to hiss.
Though the moon might be round
the fine sun can be found
in that bliss when we kiss just like this.

Prompt word: “hiss” March 2, 2026

It’s a sunset so yellow and bright. When I look to the clouds I see light.

The Joy Of Sprouting

It might sprout if it only went out
of its shell and then looked all about,
saw the sun in the sky
and white clouds flying high.
If it did . . . well, it did. It went out.

Prompt word: “sprout” March 9, 2026 (modified)

The trees do what they do. In an hour or two

Bath Math Path

Since a shower’s as good as a bath
and my heart is more true than my math,
I’ll rejoice and I’ll say
I am blessed everyday day
and not lost – not at all – on this path.

Prompt word: “bath” March 16, 2026 (modified)

will come darkness to wish a good night.

Wonderful Ride

When I ride I can look out and say,
What a wonderful, wonderful day!
If you’re sighing inside,
then come out for a ride.
Do not hide for the Lord leads the way.

Prompt word: “ride” March 23, 2026

Distracting Dog Treats

There once was a treat in a jar
on a shelf way up high very far
from the floor where he could
eat it up and he would
if he could get his nose in the jar.

Prompt word: “treat” March 30, 2026

February 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to either Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick or her Writing Prompts or derived from those posts during the month of February 2026.

Crazy Or Calm

“Are you crazy?” Not yet. I’m just calm
like a rash that is itching for balm
like a thought I won’t think
like a word with a wink
like a heart beating true in your palm.

Prompt word: “calm” February 2, 2026

Flying

“I am flying. I’m trying. OK?”
said the bird to his mama one day.
Then she jumped in the nest.
Pushed the chick out. The rest
is now history. He’s flying. OK?

Prompt word: “flying” February 4, 2026

There are birds, many birds, in the air. They fly calmly. They all are aware

Poisoned Apple

There once was a queen who thought she
was the loveliest queen that could be
till Snow White came along.
Though that apple was wrong,
the queen’s gone, right or wrong, thankfully.

Prompt word: “apple” February 9, 2026

Talking While Driving Is Driving Me Nuts

I could drive, but I’d much rather walk.
I could fly, if I could, like a hawk.
Since I know that a lie
makes a mess, I will try
not to lie, but beware when I talk.

Prompt word: “drive” February 11, 2026 (modified)

of the waters below waving on to and fro.

Deep Thoughts On Dim Light

The dim light wasn’t bright as was right.
Were it bright I would dim it at night,
but it’s day, as we say
when dark night goes away,
when the sun that’s not dim is quite bright.

Prompt word: “dim” February 16, 2026

Unrighteous Memories

Those odd memories refuse to stop
like a judge seeking justice on top
of your case every day.
All your lawyer need say,
He’s now righteous. So, let the case drop.

Prompt word: “memories” February 18, 2026

They can fly, swim or land. They don’t care.

The Worry Wart Time Machine

All my worries are worrying fast.
They have cast into now what was past,
but today is today
and the past’s gone away
so this worrisome present can’t last.

Prompt word: “cast” February 23, 2026 (slightly modified)

Lacking A Taste For Mushy Stuff

So I told him it’s better to write
a love poem than whine through the night.
But his taste wasn’t for
all that mushy stuff or
he got wrong what he wouldn’t get right.

Prompt word: “taste” February 25, 2026

Proverbial Fairy Tales: Wolf! Wolf! – The Protested Barbecue

Once upon a time when big bad was being barbecued Save The Wolf Foundation organized a massive protest. Almost ten people showed up each flashing a sign for cameras to catch. They screamed, yelled and whined. Then they stood in line to get some of that yummy wolf barbecue.

Save The Wolf had often been diagnosed as “terminally miserable”. Today their taste buds protested by deciding to live happily ever after.

______

Denise offers “sign” as the word to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

January 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to either Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick or her Writing Prompts during the month of January 2026.

Curly Curls

Well, I don’t think I have much to say
about curls that girls display.
When each curl is true,
then the girl is, too –
so I thought – and still do – come what may.

Prompt word: “curl” January 5, 2026

White Snow

When the trees are all white, there is snow.
It is bright in the light. I will go
out to play in the stuff
till enough is enough,
go inside where I’ll hide from the snow.

Prompt word: “snow” January 7, 2025 (modified)

It’s a wall so I heard after all with strange stuff making up this fine wall.

Farm

There’s a farm in the valley that’s fine.
You can buy there fresh veggies and wine.
There are eggs there as well.
Though some critters may smell,
when there’s sun, then the sun loves to shine.

Prompt word: “farm” January 12, 2026

Lovely Light, Bright and True

Whether red, maybe blue, lovely green,
it is light. It is bright and serene,
but I wonder if you
know that light can be true?
Well, I do and it’s true. I have seen.

Prompt word: “red” January 14, 2026

But whatever it is, it just is what it is.

The Crime Of Rhymeless Rhyme

Though some thought that it should be a crime
and it was, more or less, for the time
when dark poems with words
like loud ravenous birds
made no sense and much worse didn’t rhyme.

Prompt word: “crime” January 19, 2026

The Rhymeless Rhymer Makes His Defense

I have heard it’s absurd. It’s a crime
to be running one’s mouth all the time.
Still, mine’s running so well
even whiners can tell
it’s all nonsense but nonsense with rhyme.

And I’m glad that I spotted this wall.

Light and Night Rhymes with Fright

Though the light said it’s day, it was night.
I could see. What a horrible sight!
There were monsters out there.
There were goons everywhere,
but in peace I slept on through their fright.

Prompt word: “night” January 26, 2026

The Games Of Feud

“All the same you are just playing games.”
Well, at least I am not calling names.
At least now I am not.
When the feuding gets hot,
who knows what we will use for our flames?

Prompt word: “games” January 28, 2026

December Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to either Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick or her Writing Prompts during the month of December 2025.

Boring

Though it’s boring I’m snoring away
all those daydreams that come during day
and those nightmares as well
got me snoring. I’d tell
you a story – “It’s boring,” you say.

Prompt word: “boring” December 1, 2025

Promises, Promises

If you’ll do it, then do it. OK?
Don’t promise to do it and say,
“Oh, I’ll do it tomorrow
come rain splashing sorrow.”
Just do it and do it today.

Prompt word: “promise” December 3, 2025

There once was a wonderful sky and a guy with two eyes asking why

Sweet Candy

Though I used to think candy was sweet,
well, it is and it was. I could eat
my fair share of the stuff
even more than enough
even more than my share. It’s so sweet.

Prompt word: “candy” December 8, 2025

Sleigh

It’s away in a sleigh we will go
though it’s warm and there isn’t much snow.
In fact, it’s quite hot
and the reindeer are not
really reindeer. Oh, well. Here we go!

Prompt word: “sleigh” December 15, 2025

that fine sky was so red. Ah, there’s blue now instead.

Giving

I am living, that’s why I will be
someone giving back life given me.
There are more ways than one
to give life. See? The sun
keeps on giving and giving for free.

Prompt word: “giving” December 17, 2025

Holly

With the holly and ivy we go.
Grab a kiss under sweet mistletoe.
But is mistletoe sweet?
Well, the rhyme was no cheat.
May that kiss bring you bliss and love grow.

Prompt word: “holly” December 22, 2025

Just relax and enjoy the fine sky.

Family

During Christmas our family is fine.
There are some who perpetually whine.
There are some full of joy.
How they giggle, annoy
all the whiners, but family is fine.

Prompt word “family” December 24, 2025

Unused Door

The cell of my prison’s fine door
was opened. I stood on the floor.
Do I dare to go out?
Dare I run, walk about?
I stayed stuck so they locked the cell door.

Prompt word “door” December 29, 2025

Six Sentence Story: Gloria

The shepherds knew an angel who
had told them of His birth.
They went to see the mystery
of peace, goodwill on earth.

Today as well we yearn to tell,
like them, this tale of love,
with accent true with joy that’s new
from ancient songs above.

Go on and see beyond the tree
how righteousness reigns there.
He will not leave though devils grieve.
He’s with us everywhere.

______

Denise offers the prompt word “accent” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

I am grateful to P. A. Oltrogge whose book of poems, tales, carols and Bible verses, Christmas on the Porch, reminded me that it is the Christmas season and a narrative poem may be the best story.

The Piano Guys
Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

Six Sentence Story: The Cost Of Treason

After Nimrodwannabe’s kingdom fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel won the favor of Darius, the new king, to the envy of others. Some of those others deceived Darius into passing a law, secretly targeting Daniel to get rid of him, that Darius could not undo punishable by death to whomever broke it.

When Daniel did not obey he was arrested and sentenced to spend a night in the den of lions who were kept hungry by not feeding them provision from the lion keeper’s shed. All Darius could do at this point to save his favorite was wait and see if Daniel’s God could and would protect him from the treasonous setup.

When Daniel survived Darius had the deceivers – along with their wives and children – cast into the same den for the lions to execute judgment. The lions eagerly did.

______

Denise offers the word “shed” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

Daniel 6:24 KJV – And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.