You know you are out of things to write about when you share that today, May 12, is National Limerick Day. I am not a good limerick writer — I am more into haikus but decided that today we should celebrate the lovely limerick.

Each year on this day, National Limerick Day celebrates the birthday of famous English artist, illustrator, and much-loved author and poet, Edward Lear.

This talented artist was born on May 12, 1812 and lived until January 29, 1888. Lear lived a very long life, and made significant contributions to the art world. National Limerick Day celebrates the incredible works he created during his life, including his many whimsical limericks. Edward Lear is mainly famous for his contributions of poetry and. prose and mostly because of the limerick.

National Limerick Day focuses on celebrating limerick poems, which were popularized by Edward Lear’s famous book of poems named ‘Book of Nonsense’ which was published in 1846, when he was just 34-years-old.

What is a limerick? A limerick is a five-line poem with a specific rhyme and rhythm. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and fourth lines rhyme. It often is humorous.

Thanks to the internet I found a couple examples of limericks written by Edward Lear.

There was a Young Lady whose chin
Resembled the point of a pin;
So she had it made sharp, and
purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.’

Or, how about this one?

‘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!’’

Silly but they make you smile, right? So why not try your hand at writing your own limerick today and honor Edward Lear.

There once was a cat named Maksim,

Who had to incessantly clean

He would lick and he would groom

No matter the room

Just to prove that he is supreme.

A little rough but you write one and share with me! I will be over here honing my limerick skills.