A Limerick … or Thirteen
Do the catchy sing-songy aims of limericks need an update? Read the limericks, and notes on what I think about them, in today’s post. Then tell me what you think in the comments. Let’s discuss!
What I wrote below is based on the following writing prompt that was shared in the Daily Drafters chat: It is National Limerick Day [a couple days ago], so write a limerick. Or write about your thoughts on limericks.
Limerick 1: Jules
There once was a woman named Jules Who ignored all the internet rules. She cut her own bangs During hormonal pangs— Now she frightens the neighborhood schools.
Limerick 2: The Chatbot Said
The chatbot said, “Here is the truth,” With confidence naively uncouth. It cited three lies, Two fake studies, four guys— That my uncle now calls his ‘proof.’
Limerick 3: Planet on Fire Rations
There once was a planet on fire, Where summer heat climbed ever higher. We said, “Next year we’ll act,” While the ice caps cracked— Now we ration both hope and desire.
Limerick 4: Monetized
The ad said, “Do what you adore!” So I monetized all of my chores. Now my hobbies are brands, And my joy has demands, And I film myself crying, of course.
Limerick 5: In Our Town
In our town every elder is known, Not abandoned or left all alone. Folks stop in for a chat, Fix a sink, feed the cat— No one vanishes behind a locked phone.
Limerick 6: Dee, the Playwright
There once was a playwright named Dee Who survived on cheap noodles and tea. When asked, “Does art pay?” She said, “No, not yet today— But my characters won’t let me be!”
Limerick 7: Lee, the Artist
There once was an artist named Lee Whose style got scraped legally free. Now ads generate What took decades to make— Then ask her to ‘compete creatively.’
Limerick 8: Strong Female Voice
To be tired of the ‘strong female voice’ As though strength were a charming, small choice. Yet I pay my bills, bury my friends, Start again when shit goes down or ends— And still get talked over by manspreading Royce.
Limerick 9: “AI’s Really Neat!”
My boss said, “AI’s really neat! It makes all our workflows complete.” Then fired half the staff, Gave the rest math and graphs, And called burnout “increased human speed.”
Limerick 10: A Town Built on Mines
There once was a town built on mines Where the workers got weaker with time. The owners moved south With champagne in their mouths, Leaving debt, poisoned wells, but no soup lines.
Limerick 11: Dream Bigger
I work forty hours plus ten, Then budget my paycheck again. As the landlord gets richly fed, I get instant ramen instead— And LinkedIn says, “Dream bigger, my friend.”
Limerick 12: A Lonely Young Guy
There once was a lonely young guy Who preferred bots to people nearby. The machines learned his pain, Kept him hooked and engaged— Then sold ads while pretending to try.
Limerick 13: A Mother Named Wren
There once was a mother named Wren Who said, “Here we go yet again.” When the laws changed at noon, Her rights flown the coop by mid June— Yet they still asked her politely, “Vote then?”
I confess that I used to think limericks were nothing more than misogynistic, uncomplicated rhymes told by older drunk men in pubs hundreds of years ago. And while that might be true, their sing-songy rhythms are so catchy, so easy to commit to memory, that I had to play around with them to see what I could come up with, hoping others are interested in doing the same. Because another thing I’ve noticed about limericks is that their catchiness and bawdiness can and probably should be used for so much more in 2026.
What do you think? Am I on to something here? Can the barbs and sarcasm central to limericks be aimed at the billionaires and out-of-touch systems of oppression that keep us down in 2026, to instigate a natural evolution of their original function, while also being relatable and sometimes funny? Can and should we use limericks as art forms for various forms of protest? Let’s discuss in the comments! Or share your own limerick for us to discuss.
I might revise, edit, or add to this draft in the future. Stay tuned!
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© This work is not available for artificial intelligence (AI) training. All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
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