limerick – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

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

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

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

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

More Rambling Limericks

One of the nice things about limericks is that they’re short. By the time you realize that the one you’re reading was not worth reading, it’s too late.

Below are four more limericks with two interspersed photos.

I am grateful to Esther Chilton for her weekly prompts, Laughing Along With A Limerick.

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There once was a witch and a snitch.
We weren’t sure though which one was the witch.
Perhaps neither. Who knows?
Although either one shows:
got a snitch, want a witch, then just switch.
Prompt Word “snitch”, May 5, 2025

There’s a beep in my brain going peep.
It’s annoying. I’d better count sheep.
With that beep in my head
there’s now sheep in my bed.
It’s no wonder I can’t get to sleep.
Prompt Word “beep”, April 28, 2025

There once was a knave in a cave,
in a cave since it rhymes well with knave.
The word ‘knave’ I must use,
not the word I would choose,
but like Dave in the cave I’ll be brave.
Prompt Word “knave”, April 21, 2026

How I grouse and I grumble! It’s grim.
As the cat’s getting fatter, I’m slim.
When I’m small, I’d be tall.
Should I rise, then I’d fall.
When it’s bright, the light’s suddenly dim.
Prompt Word “grim”, April 7, 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

He quickly hurried back into his hole when he saw me.

Online Vanishing

Since my mind isn’t frightfully clear,
And I listen to less than I hear,
And this limerick’s got
Nary reason nor plot,
If I post it will it disappear?