Esther Chilton – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

November 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 November 2025.

The two photos are for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words.

One Wondrous Now

Be not bitter. Don’t litter away
all the moments, those nows, when you play,
since those nows are one now.
There’s just one anyhow
and that one wondrous now is today.

Prompt word: “litter” November 3, 2025

Though the black is outstanding the light of the orange and the yellow is bright

Snickety Snacks

All the snickety snacks in my pack
are quite tasty and none of them lack
a smart crunch. One or two
might sound odd, but a few
sound delightful when crunch leads to crack.

Prompt word: “snacks” November 10, 2025

Fishy Dish

How I wish that I had a fine fish
nicely fried, baked or cooked on a dish.
Well, I don’t. That’s OK.
Who likes fish anyway?
Let them swim like a fish where they wish.

Prompt word: “fish” November 12, 2025

Whale On Scale For Sale

There once was a scale for sale
and a guy who weighted more than a whale.
He decided to see
what he weighed heedlessly
and that was the end of the scale.

Prompt word: “scale” November 17, 2025 (modified)

and the sand on the shore may get littered with more of the stuff the waves brought through the night.

Shopping My Life Away

With nothing to do I went shopping.
The eyes in my head were a-popping.
I saw this. I saw that.
Everything thing I looked at
asked me why I don’t buy? Price is dropping!

Prompt word: “shopping” November 24, 2025

Angelic Looking Devil

There’s an angel – some say – over there,
but it acts like a devil. Beware!
It’s so soft and so cute
as its grabbing the loot
in a devilish devil’s affair.

Prompt word: “angel” November 26

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of October 2025. Some I have slightly modified. I’ve even added titles which I hear limericks are forbidden to have.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

Crazy Love

“That is crazy!” I thought though it’s true
like the fact that the blue sky is blue
like a gift from above
like a message of love
like an answer just waiting for you.

Prompt word “crazy” October 6, 2025

By the lake with its mountains and trees dark worries can’t do as they please.

Be Careful Whom You Follow

When I followed, you said, “Follow through,”
but I followed. What more should I do?
“Well, I gave you a map.”
Like a rat in a trap,
yes, I followed, but why didn’t you?

Prompt word “follow” October 13, 2025 (slightly modified)

Moon Cheese With Bread And Wine

Although some say the moon’s made of cheese,
is there wine and fresh bread with that, please?
Are there olives as well
and soft moonbeams to tell
of that night with the warm light through trees?

Prompt word “bread” October 20, 2025 (slightly modified)

Some white clouds come to play on this bright blue fine day and my mind, like I’ve said, is at ease.

Dusty Dust

So much dust! Can a sneezer now trust
all the dust that a sneezer now must?
When I sneeze I will say
to the dust: Blow away!
But it stayed since it’s just dusty dust.

Prompt word: “dust” October 27, 2025

September Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of September. Some I have slightly modified. I’ve even added titles which I hear limericks aren’t supposed to need.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

When Hell Freezes Over

With the spell came a chill from the well
like a frost from the fires of hell.
So, we capped it that day,
made the devils obey
which they did with no rights to rebel.

Prompt word: “spell” September 1, 2025 (modified)

The ocean is wavy and gray before start of a bright shiny day.

Just Buy A New Scale

The new scale I bought yesterday
has said what I feared it would say.
I should lose one or two
maybe more than a few
of the pounds that it said I might weigh.

Prompt word: “weigh” September 8, 2025 (modified)

The Difference Between Night And Day

It is funny how nightmares don’t seem
quite so spooky when in a daydream.
In the night, light is dark.
In the day, wolves don’t bark.
So relax. Wait till night comes to scream.

Prompt word: “funny” September 15, 2025

Then the birds rise to see how the sun shines with ease and the clouds will just have to give way.

Shower Of Thoughts

As I thought and I thought and I thought
in a shower of thoughts I got caught.
I had hoped to get clean
not stay dirty and mean,
but I still do not do what I ought.

Prompt word: “shower” September 22, 2025

Tick, Tock, Tank

As a tank it was built for success.
It succeeded in making a mess.
It was stopped one fine day
when it went out to play
by a tank built to cause more distress.

Prompt word: “tank” September 29, 2025

August Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of August. Some I have slightly modified.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

There once was a la-de-de-da
who wanted a good rhyme for “ah”
like how “much” rhymes with “touch”
like how “such” rhymes with “Dutch”
like how what rhymes with “ah” except “ha”?
Prompt Word “touch” August 4, 2025

Sandy beach and what the ocean waves brought in

The old clock is as still as a rock.
It’s now timelessly ticking each tock.
It still hangs on the wall
since it’s pretty and all,
but it’s not of much use as a clock.
Prompt Word: “rock” August 11, 2025 (modified)

Well, I just want to say I don’t trust
all the news that I hear, but I must
let the dust settle, too.
It’s the least I can do –
and the most – since I can’t control dust.
Prompt word: “just” August 18, 2025

The odd knowledge I once thought I had
is on sale and for cheap I might add.
I will sing a new song
and you may sing along.
That dumb knowledge is gone and I’m glad.
Prompt word: “sing” August 25, 2025

July Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of July. Some I have slightly modified.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words of nonsense.

There once was an egg on a wall.
As he sat he could see and felt tall.
When he fell one could tell
that he didn’t fall well,
but no matter. There’s breakfast for all.
(Prompt word: “fell” July 7, 2025)

There once was a wonderful sneeze
that came out with a shout and much ease.
Then the sneeze came again
and again and again
till it stopped after just one more sneeze.
Prompt word: “sneeze” July 14, 2025 (modified)

He was rich and once handsome. He bought
far more stuff than enough. He was caught
without room, without space,
but with belly and face
that expanded beyond what it ought.
Prompt word: “rich” July 21, 2025

Are there cells where the mind thinks and dwells
filled with words that no sane person yells?
Is that rack for my hat
by that witch with a cat
which is black laced with polka dot spells?
Prompt word: “cells” July 28, 2025

June Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of June. Some I have slightly modified.

I’ve added two photos for those who prefer a picture to a thousand words.

There’s a trail that some call the Way.
There are others that lead one astray.
Some are wide. Some are paved.
Some are sweetly depraved,
but astray I won’t wander today.
Prompt Word “trail” June 2, 2025 (modified)

Though I thought I was perfectly Frank,
I was Jerry. Then Bill. My heart sank.
Then it rose with the thought
that whatever I caught . . .
You caught what? . . . and my mind drew a blank.
Prompt word: “frank” June 9, 2025 (modified)

There’s a bowl filled with soup and a spoon
as a girl, Goldilocks, hums a tune.
Since the bears are away
she’ll have soup, but she may
have to leave and she’d better leave soon.
Prompt word: “bowl” June 16, 2025

There once was a crack in the code
and a hack from a coder who showed
if the hack fixed the crack
then the crack was the hack
and the code with the hack would explode.
Prompt word: “hack” June 23, 2025

There once were some thieves and a clock
with a sonorous tick for each tock,
but the thieves weren’t aware
that a lock was placed there
as a block of foul theft of our clock.
Prompt word: “block” June 30, 2025 (modified)

Still More Rambling Limericks

Below are four limericks I posted in the comment sections of Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With a Limerick.

I limit them to four for mental health reasons. However, if you really want more, here’s the first set and here’s the second. And there are many more by many other people on Esther’s site.

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There once was a shiny, bright lad
and a damsel his mom said was bad
and a dragon, much worse . . .
I forget the next verse . . .
but whatever it was, he’s the dad.
Prompt word: “dad” May 12, 2025

May I rent a small tent in your head?
I will lead you and feed you, I said.
I will say what I will
and you will get a fill,
but alive you won’t be till I’m dead.
Prompt word: “rent” May 19, 2025

There’s a tickety-toc to old clocks.
There’s a warmth when one wears woolen socks.
Every that has a this.
Every love wants a kiss.
Every love that’s untrue merely mocks.
Prompt word: “socks” February 24, 2025

“When you talk you don’t listen,” they said.
So I listened and they talked instead.
Then I listened some more,
though I don’t know what for,
since the words that I heard missed my head.
Prompt word: “talk” May 26, 2025

Rambling Limericks

Esther Chilton offers a weekly limerick prompt which I started participating in. Here are four limericks which I’ve posted in the comment sections of her prompts.

I’ve included two photos of critters I ran into on my walks so the reader’s brain doesn’t fry on an overdose of rhyme, alliteration and the anapestic presentation of the (nearly) nonsensical.

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Though he said if I wanted to chill
there’s a pill I could take if I will,
but I don’t trust the guy
nor the look in his eye
nor whatever might be in his pill.
Posted March 31, 2025

I am old. I am bold and the rage
trapped inside must get out on some stage.
So I whine and I cry.
So I ramble and lie.
So I act unbecoming my age.
Posted February 3, 2025

A wave came in and took him back into the ocean

He was woke. He was broke. He was cursed
By some demons who got to him first
Then a witch (maybe two)
Then that wizard who knew
That a wizard’s most likely the worst.
Appeared December 9, 2024

It is white. It is bright. It is snow.
Down the street, if I’m forced to, I’d go.
But I’m not, so I won’t.
You ask, why? Well, I don’t
really know and that’s all that I know.
Posted January 6, 2025