The limerick is a relatively simple form of poetry. ... But does a limerick have to be funny? Traditionally, limericks tend to humorous, often examining matters of the off-color and the unsavory. But there's no reason you can't write a serious limerick.

What are the rules for a limerick?

A limerick consists of five lines arranged in one stanza. The first line, second line, and fifth lines end in rhyming words. The third and fourth lines must rhyme. The rhythm of a limerick is anapestic, which means two unstressed syllables are followed by a third stressed syllable.

What is a limerick usually about?

A limerick is a poem that consists of five lines in a single stanza with a rhyme scheme of AABBA. Most limericks are intended to be humorous, and many are considered bawdy, suggestive, or downright indecent. The subject of limericks is generally trivial or silly in nature.