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Limericks and me
I would never have thought that I would write poetry. Indeed, I thought that I hated poetry because of its ability to expose some weaknesses in me: intolerance and impatience, stubbornness and a bit of stupidity. Intolerance of a form of literature that I could not be bothered to take the time to appreciate, and impatience with anyone who might try to convince me that poetry was worth getting to know. Stubbornness is one of my stronger traits, and I have been aware of it coming into play with my refusal to give poetry a chance. But the main reason I have always been a little afraid of poetry is because of my vanity, and my belief that poetry could expose me for the charlatan that I am! If I tried to understand poetry, or to write it, everyone would quickly become aware of my lack of intelligence! Poetry has been the fly in my ointment, the pea under my mattress, the thorn in my side, the little itch that would not go away no matter how hard I scratched.
Of course, poetry has been no such thing, and all of these negative things have existed only in my imagination. Poetry, in reality, has been beckoning in a most friendly and welcoming manner, and has not been deterred by my cold shoulder. Poetry has waited patiently, never with a knowing smile, yet always confident that I would join the party eventually. Clever of poetry to know that, since I was not aware of it myself.
I have been reading some poetry since becoming a member here, and that is what this community is excellent for: providing us with new reading experiences, encouraging us to look outside of our bubble and to see the world from the perspectives of any number of others. There are some very talented poets here, and I do know that I am not anywhere near their league, and will never be near it.
Aka Professor M was very gracious a few days ago when he urged me to have a go at writing a little something poetical, after I had hijacked his hub and started a conversation about something other than the excellent poem that he had composed himself about the Dangers of Anger (no longer published). I gulped nervously, but knew that I had to take up the bait, aware that Professor Mike only ever encourages me to improve my writing skills and explore new facets of my meagre talent. I trusted the Professor's faith in me, and gave it a go:
Miss Wordsmith she wanted to rhyme,
She heard people rhyme all the time,
She stuttered and tripped,
Some pancakes she flipped,
Then she gave up and rested, sublime.
Now, well, alright, just before you leave this hub in disgust, hear me out! Now, you might have been hoping for something a bit more, well, poetic, perhaps a little more flourishing and metaphysical. I must explain that, although I can enjoy a bit of Andrew Marvell* as much as the next person, I will never be able to compose lilting love poems full of classical references and so on, because such sentiments do not exist in my cold heart.
The Professor and I had a little discussion about limericks, and about humorous poetry, and I decided that this would be the way to go. Now, I'm sure you're dying to tell me that the little verse I showed you just now is not really very funny. But in my defence, I am not a standup comedienne, and I am only taking my first baby steps into this alien world of rhyme and rhythm. And I understand your disappointment, truly I do, at the insertion of the word 'pancakes' when cooking had not hitherto been mentioned. But when faced with the word 'flipped' the only image that would persist in thrusting itself to the forefront of my mind was a pancake pan. What could I do? It had to be written down, because it refused to leave otherwise. Happily for me, once my little ditty had been committed to the ether, the image of the pan disappeared, purged.
So that was that. My first poem, a limerick, was out in the open for all to see who would wish to. What now then? Well, I floated about on my false sense of pride for a little while, and did a little sit down dance of glee a few hours later when the Professor expressed some delight at my efforts. But what was this?! Praise from another writer, Sligobay! Two people commenting on my first poem, which was not even published in my own hub. How exciting! A lovely little spat ensued, between the Professor and Sligobay, as to the correct adjective that should be applied to my substantial effort in crafting this stunning piece of wordsmithery - of course, I knew that it was all in good fun, but I could not overpower the urge to write about the two gentleman as if they were having a genuine disagreement. Is this what poetry is all about? Urges to write that the writer has no control over? Because if it is, then I must say that I find it a more powerful urge than the one which drives me to write prose! This is peculiar to me.
So anyway, I wrote this:
The Professor and Sligo at odds,
Thought Linda, 'they are silly sods,
To fight and enflame,
When my poetry's so lame.'
But really they're all writing Gods!
Now, before you rush to your keyboard to tell me about my dreadful mistake, I know that 'enflame' is not a word, and I should have used 'inflame', but in my haste to show off the fact that I could compose a little verse in roughly two minutes (though who on Earth would know how long it had taken me if I had not told you just now?!) I hit the Comment button before I had checked the poem thoroughly. Shame on me. I won't do that again. Must calm down about poetry.
* Don't be under any illusion that I'm being intelligent here: Andrew Marvell is the only metaphysical poet that I know, and I only know of him because we read some of his poems at school. I can't remember a word of them. I have just looked up 'To His Coy Mistress'; it was vaguely familiar, and I have a faint memory of our English teacher blushing when she revealed that the poem alluded to something a bit rude!
I did compose one more limerick for the Professor, very quickly, when he assured me that I had taken the spat too seriously, verbal jousting he called it. Now since I had originally wanted to use the word 'jousting' in the second limerick, I could not resist the opportunity to use it now. Want to see it? You might as well, and then you've got the trilogy.
The word she would use it was 'jousting',
But fit it would not, nope, so ousting.
'Fight' seemed too strong,
And she knew it was wrong,
But now she's accused them of rousting!
So there you have it, my first venture into poetics. And I must say that I enjoyed it thoroughly, and found it to be much less difficult than I had feared. Now, whether that is because limericks are easy-peasy I cannot tell. I am sure that, just like any kind of writing, there are people in the hubaspere, and indeed the rest of the world, who could limerick me into the dust! In fact, I sent my little poetical offerings to some friends, and they promptly sent back some of their own, making me realise that I am absolutely not special, and that penning a few rhyming couplets should not give me ideas above my station! I certainly do not feel as though I can now write any kind of poetry I like, and it may well be that I will stick with limericks for the rest of my life and never explore any other form. But that is alright. I have tried something new, and I have not embarrassed myself in the attempt. I am absolutely certain that I have a long way to go, and many lessons to learn, but I have the sense that I've begun a little journey that might take me to places I had never, ever expected to go.
But perhaps I have begun with the basics, and time will tell if I can progress any further. I am interested in finding out more about haiku - minimalism in poetry might be the key for me; the adage of 'less is more' seems to suit me.
What was the last new thing you tried? (Only tell us if it's appropriate - no rude things please!)
Related
Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed this hub and your limericks! You are too hard on yourself, I think! I did something new today, actually by taking my 7 year old grandson to the zoo, just he and I...And it turned out quite well. We both had a good time! I am always looking for new things to try...some turn out and some do not, but I won't know unless I try! Great job with this, Lady!
- Author
I think it's a defense mechanism tnderhrt :) If I take a stab at myself first, no-one else can!
I don't feel like I've tried many new things this year so far, and I think it's time I did. I'm glad you enjoyed the zoo - we love the zoo too, and are lucky enough to live fairly close to two great ones. The Easter Holidays have just begun here, so I hope I will be able to take my boys this week. And the sun is out, lifting my spirits :)
Thank you for your encouragement tnderhrt, as always :)
Linda.
There once was a Lady of Wordsmith
Who delighted us, her words with
With effort sublime
She made them all rhyme
And we can read them right here, forthwith!
- Author
There once was a writer called WillStarr,
Whose words took us West, we did go far.
He regaled, and he told,
Of cowboys so bold,
His HubFans did all cry out 'Yeehaaaaah!'
I surrender, mylady.
You have bested me. :-)
Linda, don't do it! The Haiku business, I mean. I wrote a very silly, tongue in cheek hub on that foreign poetry thingy and it brought out all the purists. They had Haiku and Bonsai and all that Japanese artistic stuff all over the place.
I was going to do a hub on Limericks, and started to collect them, so you can have this one of you like (It's not mine)
The limerick packs laughs anatomical
Into space that is quite economical,
But the good ones I've seen
So seldom are clean,
And the clean ones so seldom are comical.
tha lady writes a fine limerick
she does use just every trick
good words she does find
our attention they bind
she's learnt the art brick by brick
- Author
He he, keep 'em coming y'all! I am loving the limerick.
Lol, thank you WillStarr - I didn't know it was possible to duel in poetry! I don't think I've ever bested anyone before!
Oh, I never thought of that Ian. Hmm. Well, maybe I'll look into it before I publish anything at least. I'm curious, and I seldom rest until I've sated that curiosity. Thanks for the limerick - it does ring very true, I like it.
Also Ian, I am thinking that I might have that purist problem if I ever get my novel published. It's all to do with faeries, of the medieval kind, unravelling superstitions and things like that, and exploring some of the characters that are a bit famous, like Queen Mab and Valfreja and Oberon, and lots of others. I'm just running a bit wild with them, and expect that if I show it to anyone who truly believes in faeries (there are lots of these people!) they'll have a fit! But, so what eh? They're my faeries, I can do what I like with them in my book :)
Ah, lovely, neelesh, thank you so very kindly :D I'm just very happy that I can find a rhyme at last!
Linda.
That was delightful.
Your prose just skips off the page. I liked your Limericks was well. Your rhythm is just right, and you show an inventive imagination that is very engaging.
Keep up the good work.
Delightful read, and very well-written as well! I hope you continue to write poetry; it is not an exclusive club. We all struggle with our words, rhyme, or meter and prose. And we all write bad poems sometimes, but we know we will write a better one later. Voted up and awesome. :)
Lady Wordsmith, although I am usually a dark writer of verse and prose, I enjoy limericks and epigrams. A poet is a poet is a poet, he/she conveys what comes from their heart and soul. There is such an abundance of different types of offerings.
Words are like a puzzle, we try to place them in the right place to complete the art we are attempting to offer up in it's completion. I write what moves me, I have a wealth of past dark experiences to draw from and my mentor pushes my envelope to the limits of my mind.
You have ventured in to an art of words and I must say you will find many great poets here. Sligobay is definitely one as is Genna East, I follow them both. Welcome to the poet's corner. Hugs
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Thank you Christopher (are you a Chris, or do you prefer Christopher?). I appreciate your encouragement, very much. I'm blushing actually :D
And Genna, that is a very encouraging thought to hear also - that we all write bad poems sometimes. I'll remember that :)
Thank you for the welcome saddlerider. I'm happy to be joining in with such a splendid group of writers. I have seen the work of some poets here, and have been mightily impressed. This is such an inspiring place to be :)
Linda.
Woohoo! Welcome to poetry Linda! And yep, 9 times out of 10 I'd avoid foreign poetic forms - different languages have different rhythmic sensibilities so it can be stretching it a little to get a non Englishlanguage form to work in English. Of course sometimes it can be done beautifully, but baby steps my girl, baby steps!
Hi there. Chris is fine. Thank you.
Linda, as always, your conversational prose astounds and delights me. I, while a great lover of READING poetry, generally try to stay away from writing it. I find myself struggling to plumb the depths of emotions I may be feeling in just a few words. Your limericks were delightful! Keep plugging, and you never know what could happen!
:)
- Author
Zoe,
My mum writes beautiful haiku, which is why it's been recommended to me as a form that I might enjoy you see. That's not to say that mine will be anywhere near as good as hers, she's been a poet for many years now. But who says I'm going to write it in English?? I'm learning Japanese (very, very slowly!) :D
Nice one, Chris, cheers!
Hello Motown :) This might be why I feel quite comfortable writing this kind of poetry - I have no depths of emotion! But like Zoe says, baby steps :) I'm having fun, and that's all I wanted.
Linda.
Lol, it's my advice for beginners, I only meant avoid for now whilst you find your poetry feet - give it a go once you've got a few stanzas' behind you and see if it works for you.
As long as you enjoy, that's the main thing.
...well believe me when I tell you - but this is the most entertaining hub I`ve ever read on poetry because it`s so unpretentious and witty and charming - quite possibly because it comes from a witty, charming and unprententious writer (did I mention a wise mind too) - and as I always say about any type of writing - in particular poetry, if you write from your heart the mind will always follow)
...and as for the epi-man -I don`t consider myself a poet - lol - more of an anti-poet who is trying to deconstruct and subvert the genre - lol - and that is essentially the point that I`m making - write whatever you want - just follow the beat of your own poetic drummer and do not be intimidated by anyone`s style or how poetry should be written - just go for it and create a style and a language all of your very own - because like I said before - YOU CAN WRITE ANYTHING - when you put your mind to it!!!!
- Author
Cheers Zoe :) And since I don't even know what a haiku actually is yet - something about the correct number of syllables :OS - it'll be a while before I give it a go. Too busy being outside and enjoying the sunshine at the moment anyway - hope you are getting chance to do that too, and hope that there's sun dahn sahth. Got to find things to write ABOUT, staying inside and writing can only be productive for so long, and then it's time to get back out into the world to stock up on ideas :) Now, a weekend in London, by myself, visiting my old friends would give me plenty to write about, I'm sure!!!
Linda.
- Author
Oh thank you Epi, you always know the right things to say about my work to make me grin from ear to ear! I do believe you, honestly I do :)
'more of an anti-poet who is trying to deconstruct and subvert the genre' - yes, this is exactly what you do, and I can see it now that you've pointed it out. Excellent, I love this idea.
You are right of course, as always, that writing has to just come from the heart, and be allowed to just go where it wants to go and do what it wants to do. I always write my best pieces when I'm not really trying too hard to make them into something that fits any kind of formula. Course, I still have to put my mind to it in some way, to get myself to actually sit down and do it.
Thank you Epi, encouraging as always. I do appreciate it, very much.
Linda.
Yes it's been lovely and sunny in the big smoke - and I'm half way through a 5 day weekend t the moment so lovin' that - but lusting over the neighbours gardens as I don't have one!
You should definately head up to our nations capital at some point - we can FB togther a little group meet up in a beer garden or something around the South Bank maybe...
- Author
Ooh, that would be lovely. Finances are super tight at the moment - as are everyone's, I know - so I think I'm going to have to get a Saturday job (lol, feel like a teenager saying that!) just to tide us over for a couple of years while I do my MA. If I could manage to get down to Town this summer it would be great. I don't know if it can be done though - it might have to be next summer.
The South Bank, ahhh, those were the days... well, actually that was the day, since I've only been there once, lol!
London, London, how do I love thee... Hmm, might have to write a hub!
Linda.
- Author
Called London, ‘Come down here, we miss you’,
Said Linda, ‘oh London, I’d love to’.
She planned and she craved,
She scrimped and she saved,
Not ‘til summer of –twelve she did get through!
Just tuck your ego away
with words your dragons you’ll slay
and listen to what they all say
if not there’l be hell to pay
- Author
Dragons! You've hit on a subject close to my heart there - I have a dragon tattoo :)
Oh!
I'm the girl with the dragon tattoo,
But dragons I never would slew (!)
I'd find one to ride,
With a silvery hide,
Or maybe a greenish blue hue.
haha! terrific
- Author
I thank you :D
Dipping ones toe in the water is the first step towards drowning. (only joking)
Since joining hubpaged i have been encouraged to venture into uncharted water. It's invigorating, challenging and worth the risk. So keep it up I say.
I really feel quite averse
To writers responding in verse
A sensible letter
I find to be better
As limericks can be a curse
- Author
Not too far from the truth there Keith, as I actually cannot swim.
I write letters too - real ones, that are on paper, and written with a pen, and sent in the post in an envelope with a stamp on. Really, I do :)
Linda.
I used to, but alas no more. You are a thoughtful dinosaur.
Hi a really entertaining hub written with honesty and in your unique style. Really enjoyed this one thank you.
- Author
Yes, I'm a pensive pterodactyl.
Hello D.A.L., thank you for reading, and thank you for your lovely comment.
Linda.
Howdy Lady W - Limericks are fun to mess with. You start the things off at line #1. "Whew! Only 4 more to go!" For a writer, that's simply a little bump in a roadful of words, some flying around like gravel and others plastered down from the poundings they have received from misuse by the masses.
Alas. Limericks can get a writer into muddy water, too. One fine day, having had sufficient provocation, I began to fill a small book with "Limericks to Limerick." It had been told that there had not been a new limerick penned or uttered in the place since old Mr. What's-his name hitched a ride with Charon across the Styx. I sent the deal along to a Mrs. Enos who supposedly owned and operated Limerick's only general store. Other townspeople got into the act as well. The result has been that I dare not visit Limerick to this day.
Lady W., you watch out about the limerick stuff !
Gus :-)))
this pretty girl called Billy
wrote lovely limericks in Swahili
what she wrote with her hand
none could ever understand
the townfolk thought she was silly
Seems to me, that I recall a certain Lady Wordsmith who had said she couldn't write a poem to save her soul!
Well as has been amply noted by many fine writers and poets who have already chimed in, your Soul is Indeed quite safe and very secure indeed, Linda.
The sum and substance of your article has encompassed the
nature and experience that all writers and poets have or will experience in this fascinating writing style.
That I saw your reference to me, while very flattering, was giving me far to much credit in your transition and growth in finding that poetic muse as you now have done.
The outpouring and acceptance by the poetic community here on HubPages really warms my heart and tells me that
you are among friends and deservedly so! Congratulations
Linda and you are indeed proving that moniker Lady Wordsmith is truly accurate! Regards Aka Professor M! (Mike) ;D
- Author
Ha ha, thanks for the warning Gus. I won't inflict my limericks on Limerick, since I'm sure the place is well weary of them. Although, since you're talking of Limerick, Maine, and I'm talking of Limerick, Ireland, maybe I could send my words to whoever runs the general store in the town in the Emerald Isle.
Linda.
- Author
Oh Professor, you've done it again, made me blush!
I never would have imagined that poetry could be so much fun, and that I could write it whilst keeping hold of my own 'writer's voice'. I've just found that voice, you see, and I've become very fond of it.
Yes, the poets on HubPages are incredibly welcoming and warm, and I'm very chuffed by the comments this wee hub has received. Among friends, as you say :)
Linda.
The way that you've really embraced this writing style, Linda was simply something that I was able to foresee. By reading the way that your hubs were being presented, I then could see that you've already possessed those skills necessary to adapt easily to this format.
Thus extrapolating that one step further, Linda, I saw that, if encouraged, you could and would shine once you tried your hand at it.
Did you need a little help to see that for yourself? Yes!
All I did was to encourage you to simply give it your best effort. That I did, so in turn you felt the lure of Poetry!
The Limerick poetic style called to you, Lady Wordsmith! You then answered it with a real honest effort which was rewarded with overwhelming success as you've now shown!
So now Linda, you are a recognized, accepted and proven Poet and that is how it should be! Bravo Linda! Bravo!
Regards Aka Professor M! (Mike) ;D
- Author
I'm a poet??! Nooooo. Well, alright then, yes, maybe a little one (well, not that little: I'm 5'9")
I see what you're saying. Our friends do the encouraging, but they can't make us do the writing: we do that ourselves. You were right when you said that we each have something that no-one else does, the ability to be Ourselves. I've found myself, literarily speaking, on HubPages - I'm sure I'm not alone, I'm positive that lots of people experience that sort of thing.
I haven't written a limerick now for a few days, and I am feeling the pull of the pen to write some more. I think I might do as epi does, and because they're so short and quick to produce (I don't mean that epi's necessarily are - I'm sure a lot more thought goes into his very clever verses) I might write five and post them together.
Your encouragement is worth so much Professor. If it could be bottled and sold...
:)
Linda.
@Lady Wordsmith: Written like a true Wordsmith, Linda! It isn't easy to get out of ones comfort zone! Perhaps that is why it is called a "Comfort Zone"! LOL!
Sure it's nice to feel safe and snug when we do anything of a public nature! We enjoy the security of being seen as safe and dependable.
However every so often we need to try something new, to push ourselves, test our boundaries and increase our scope. That is what you did and these are your rewards for a job well done.
It is called by some gaining life experience and when done wisely these are its perks. Will it always be this way ? No! Will you make mistakes? Perhaps! That is Life!
Linda, Remember the key is to choose WISELY and use what you already know to help you choose! Size matters only to those who make it matter! It is all relative to where you are at that stage of your life!
Being tall is great if you have high ceilings but if the ceilings are low then they feel cramped and cause you great discomfort! It is the same with any situation !
You determine its importance to you and then respond to it accordingly!
Enough of my philosophical rhetoric and banter here! You have your writing to get to and so do I! Great chatting, Linda! Regards Mike (Aka Professor M!) ;D
- Author
Mike, I am crying with laughter at your observations on the relative relevance of height and low ceilings! That must surely have been the last thing I expected to read in your comment :D
Yes, you are right, we both have our writing to get on with. Many wishes for a productive day for you :)
Linda.
@Lady Wordsmith: The relevance of my height input was in reference to your personal height revelation, Linda! That needed to be addressed. I then used it to inject some much needed humour into an otherwise serious dissertation.
I achieved that from the extremely honest response you wrote above, Linda. With that My mission has been a success.LOL! Regards Mike! (Aka Professor M!) ;D
This is a wonderfully worded and provocative hub
Lady Wordsmith. It is so enchanting how you were able
to put your words together and come up with such a lovely
piece. This was a very entertaining and enjoyable hub.
As for the Professor, he has always been a wonderful and
witty wordsmith himself, when he is weaving his canvas of words. Keep up the great work!!
Regards, A.CreativeThinker :)
- Author
A.CreativeThinker, thank you very much indeed for such an encouraging comment. I appreciate your taking the time to read my hub, and to tell me what you thought of it.
Yes, the Professor is a true wordsmith. He does things with words that I can only, as yet, dream of!
Linda.
@A.CreativeWriter: Glad you have visited this Hub, as I'm sure the both of you will appreciate each others work A.CreativeThinker. As Linda is a new follower of TPWS she already knows you there, as my most prolific contributor and very good friend "Angel aka the Philosopher".
I thank you "A", for those kind words and know that you'll be soon making yourself known on HubPages very soon indeed! Regards Mike (Aka Professor M!) ;D
- Author
@Prof M - ahh, I see, Angel aka the Philosopher. Thanks for the introduction.
Nice to meet you on HubPages A. :) I have seen some of your contributions on the Write Site. All the more honoured to receive a comment from you!
Linda.
@Lady Wordsmith: My Pleasure Linda! The "A" for "Angel" and the "Creative Thinker" is then elementary, so ergo she it transformed from "Aka the Philosopher"!
Subtly brilliant in its simplicity, if I do say so myself! I have always enjoyed such word plays and that sequence works very well! Regards Mike! (Aka Professor M) ;D
@ Lady Wordsmith
Oh, thank you for your kind words and it is likewise, nice to meet you too. Limericks are not always easy to master. I find them somewhat difficult.
The nice thing about writing on this type of venue, is that when we give from our experiences, we also learn from others as well. :)
- Author
That is true Angel (if I may presume to call you by that name?) Now that my hubs are tending to draw a few comments, I'm learning even more from the whole experience. (Taking up far too much of my time though - I really need to starting turning this computer off!)
Linda.
I know what you mean, when you say that it takes too much
of your time. lol I find it difficult with all of my daily
tasks sometimes, to keep up with everything. But, prioritizing and organizing our tasks, can help keep us from getting overwhelmed. Or at least, try to.
Regards, A. (Angel)
i read your hub miss wordsmith
oh! i must say it's so sweet
a new light it gave me
to tread upon freely
now i know a thing about limericks.
thank you
- Author
Prioritising, ah, yes - that's the thing I keep forgetting to do. Thanks Angel!
- Author
:) Thank you Chisom - nice to meet you.
Linda.
You keep writing from the heart.... you can´t go wrong. It´s obvious you have the talent.
Well done.
- Author
Thank you Dim :) Nice to meet you - and thanks for the fan mail! I look forward to reading more of your hubs too.
Linda.
She claimed she wasn't a poet
But she was and just didn't know it
So Linda, they'd cry
give it another try
Put your thoughts in a poem and show it.
A bad,quick effort from myself there but just to say i've been reading yout poems and limericks and they have all been really good. Excellent in fact. You are a lot better at it than you think. So i'm hoping that you do a lot more of them.
Thanks. Michael.
- Author
He he! Thank you Michael. I will do more limericks, definitely. I really do enjoy them. As for poems of any other kind, well, I don't know, because the one I posted here about Strangers is the first one I've really felt the need to write - I suppose I might feel inspired to write more, but I'll just have to wait and see :)
Linda.
i sign my limericks. figure out how.
- Author
Sign them? Using sign language? Or with a pen? Hmm.
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