While the origin of the limerick is something of a mystery (it shares its name with the city and county of Limerick in western Ireland, and has possible roots in Gaelic folk music), the popularity of its current form is better understood.
Edward Lear (1812-1888), English artist, musician, author, is famously known for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form he popularized. One of his most famous -
There was an Old Man with a beard
Who said, "It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren
Have all built their nests in my beard!
Other famous authors have also done well penning a limerick - just a few
There was a Small Boy of Quebec by Rudyard Kipling
My Firm Belief is that Pizarro by Aldous Huxley
There was an Old Poop from Poughkeepsie by John Updike
There's a Ponderous Pundit MacHugh by James Joyce
The Marriage of Poor Kim Kardashian by Salman Rushdie
So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, try your hand at a limerick, post it on the Forum, we'd love to see it!
There once was a writer from _____________