Free write today. Cut these up, pick one and start writing.
The limerick packs laughs anatomicalLimericks are 5 lines, with an aabba rhyme.
Into space that is quite economical.
But the good ones I've seen
Hardly ever are clean
And the clean ones so seldom are comical. -- Anonymous
So on this great day for Saint Patrick,
Whip out your computer and write quick.
Tap out some fierce verse.
Though beat be adverse
It all can be cleaned with a mouse click.
There once was a man from Nantucket,
Who kept all of his cash in a bucket,
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man,
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.
—Princeton Tiger
But he followed the pair to Pawtucket,
The man and the girl with the bucket;
And he said to the man,
He was welcome to Nan,
But as for the bucket, Pawtucket.
—Chicago Tribune
Then the pair followed Pa to Manhasset,
Where he still held the cash as an asset,
But Nan and the man
Stole the money and ran,
And as for the bucket, Manhasset.
—Exchange
Of this story we hear from Nantucket,
About the mysterious loss of a bucket,
We are sorry for Nan,
As well as the man—
The cash and the bucket, Pawtucket.
—Pawtucket Times
I don't know if you're the authorityWhat I really need to know is whether or not syllable cramming is allowed, or whether the exact number of syllables MUST equal the assigned number for the line. And, is there an exact number of syllables assigned for each line?
That will impart the absolute truth to me
But I'm not really sure
Just what is the structure
Of the limericks I'm slaughtering brutally.
Is it just 8 8 5 5 8
Or is it 8 8 6 6 8
Can syllables be crammed
And more than eight be jammed
To keep the meter read at the same gait?
My girlfriend and I can't tell
What makes these little rhymes swell
Please write me back
And teach me the knack
Of writing a limerick well!
da DA-da-da DA-da-da DA-(da) (da)Meaning that you can leave off the syllables in parentheses, but 1,2 and 5 should match each other, and 3 and 4 should match.
da DA-da-da DA-da-da DA (da) (da)
da DA-da-da DA (da)
da DA-da-da DA (da)
da DA-da-da DA-da-da DA (da) (da)
Last week you destroyed the local bad guy who held your village in fear for the past year. (The bad guy can be an evil wizard, thug, alien invader, dragon, whatever you wish. You can be a good wizard, fighter, clever strategist, ninja, again whatever you wish.)
Jack, of the beanstalk fame, has been charged with breaking and entering, larceny, and first degree murder.
| (go) | |
| (community chest) | |
| (income tax) | |
| (railroad) | |
| (chance) | |
| (jail/visiting) | |
| (utility) | |
| (railroad) | |
| (community chest) | |
| (free parking) | |
| (chance) | |
| (railroad) | |
| (utility) | |
| (go to jail) | |
| (community chest) | |
| (railroad) | |
| (chance) | |
| (luxury tax) | |
| (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (pewter token) | (money) | (hotels) | (houses) |
“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” -- William Butler Yeats
Reduplications are words containing repeated sounds. The following are some rhyming reduplications.
| For "walked" or "ran" lumbered plodded scurried sidled slinked/slunk proceeded wended scuttled went on his way shuffled scuffed scuffled stumbled shambled waddled wobbled scooted slouched scrambled scampered minced trotted strolled sauntered ambled marched stepped paced roamed roved meandered shadowed pursued trekked continued on drifted past/along strayed glided along strode stalked stomped strutted swished swaggered stamped tramped trudged traipsed trod/treaded/trodden limped hobbled lurched staggered tripped crawled crossed traversed inched across hurtled galloped charged darted advanced approached bushwhacked chased climbed crept along, crept away sneaked/snuck tiptoed stepped lightly pussyfooted dashed danced pranced descended ascended dodged edged eluded emerged entered evacuated escaped evaded fled flitted flew hauled off groped his way launched across scaled lunged moved paraded passed patrolled plowed prowled propelled pursued raced sailed rushed sidestepped skidded skipped stole stomped steered swerved veered listed trampled ushered waded wandered hiked withdrew ambulated perambulated absconded trailed after bolted tore tore along made rapid strides covered ground sprinted careered scudded hastened raced hurried jogged cantered loped tripped took flight decamped drifted For "reacted" reeled back rocked back flushed blanched blushed scowled nodded her consent nodded his agreement smiled grinned grimaced fell silent shrugged and said admitted with a nod shook his head beamed smirked simpered listed tilted swayed keeled over flinched shivered sniffed blinked retracted sighed exhaled inhaled flicked flung reclined shifted relaxed swallowed pouted looked + adj. yielded hesitated made no attempt to frowned made no answer fell silent paused stared gasped started startled slackened reclined drew back stepped back stiffened resisted retreated raised an eyebrow cocked her head to one side put her head to one side tilted her head chuckled yawned laughed snickered giggled stifled a yawn stifled a laugh took a deep breath glanced off glared shrugged devoid of emotion grinned sneered For "said" uttered mumbled drawled parroted echoed said half-aloud snarled blurted moaned muttered murmured cooed whispered crooned hollered shrilled sassed prompted questioned demanded queried replied suggested responded sang out scoffed screamed yelled yelped shouted inquired chirped squealed squeaked asked herself asked assured commanded cried out exclaimed advised announced growled stuttered stammered instructed told jeered scolded lamented mocked objected questioned roared speculated snapped spat stated whined jabbered prated prattled gibbered cackled gabbled sputtered blathered rambled on rattled on maundered digressed sermonized preached came out with declaimed pontificated harangued ranted rhapsodized gushed spouted let slip enlightened him pointed out chatted revealed boasted crowed vaunted bragged disparaged belittled notified addressed blabbed nattered bantered yakked whispered wondered aloud rejoined retorted replied recited repeated remarked came out with conveyed declared summoned imparted mentioned added put before revealed let out divulged disclosed made known vented aired breathed betrayed recited predicted advanced averred avowed avouched assumed imagined professed claimed purported insinuated cited named offered proposed pleaded imputed implied asserted expressed pledged ascribed affirmed professed admitted | For "jumped" vaulted leapt/leaped pounced startled flinched sprang lunged launched jerked jolted erupted exploded shot from For "took" drew withdrew pulled out a picked selected chose plucked removed snatched out scooped up rooted out snatched trapped took up raised picked up hoisted set upright elevated seized prized open wrenched wrested produced extracted extricated accepted fetched grabbed snitched took hold of jimmied gathered grasped gripped fingered nabbed packed ransacked appropriated swiped snared dragged acquired obtained gained procured garnered gleaned pilfered lowered took down tore down swapped For "pulled" pulled out removed took out extracted produced tugged extricated lugged drew dragged yanked For "pushed" propelled ballasted set in motion drove trundled shoved thrust pressed forward made one's way squeezed through roused prompted forged ahead For "put" stashed placed posed posited plunked down mounted positioned stationed set before dropped crammed stuffed stuck lodged plopped plunked parked stationed planted perched inserted lay set set upright stood on end upended deposited consigned relegated strapped tossed threw flung lobbed hurled heaved cast slapped onto draped dunked eased shifted interposed installed For "looked, saw" glared glanced off regarded made out descried remarked had in sight glowered squinted shot him a look fixed her with a stare sighted ogled cast a glance his eyes begged her to amplify gazed gaped spotted surveyed turned an eye on looked upon distinguished fixed her gaze on noted recognized identified took a look took a glance stared leered scowled scanned peered squinted gaped noticed observed considered watched viewed took in studied examined inspected scrutinized perused sized up took stock of skimmed glanced through flipped through perceived discerned beheld watched for looked on eyed detected contemplated kept in sight held in view stood guard kept watch monitored For "thought, remembered" wondered asked herself pondered noticed reflected struck her as entertained the notion held in one's mind It occurred to her It came to her realized knew she considered. she considered this. he was tempted to brought to mind he was taken with the idea that she reasoned understood considered went over reviewed pictured featured imagined pretended hoped feared envisioned deliberated envisaged called up conjured up conceived of fancied allowed the conceit judged suspected intended expected planned concentrated mused ruminated recalled mulled over brooded over projected anticipated concluded esteemed took heed kept in mind guessed supposed formed an image of conjured hatched fabricated fashioned formulated concocted reasoned that turned it over in her mind flirted with the idea recollected bore in mind deduced inferred thought back to put her in mind of called to mind reminded her of acknowledged weighed reconsidered thought better of For "felt, seemed, showed, looked like" sensed had the impression understood detected seemed appeared betrayed indicated betokened foretokened revealed bespoke suggested signified connoted hinted at alluded to implied intimated presaged portended forewarned disclosed displayed lay open made manifest exposed bared struck her as looked as if looked like had the look of had every appearance of had the earmarks of resembled sounded like exhibited evidenced showed manifested emblematic of | For "touched" clutched pawed gripped grasped took hold of adjusted felt manipulated maneuvered twiddled palpated palmed handled thumbed rummaged through caressed fondled stroked grazed rubbed tugged squeezed scratched pinched patted tapped tamped rapped brushed bedaubed dappled dabbed swept across scraped glanced alighted pressed wrung kneaded shoved gouged grazed prodded ticked trapped jabbed poked pressed probed goaded twisted wedged pried prized open pry/pried pulled pushed primped preened rattled pumped mangled massaged felt flattened smoothed scooped up flicked flipped flogged fondled groped handled held knifed mauled tapped drummed wiggled worked stubbed scoured scrubbed For "had, held" bore exhibited showed displayed betrayed wielded carried was furnished with contained wore sported spanned suspended grasped gripped clutched contained toted possessed retained embraced evinced For "hit" beat socked bumped clapped thumped lashed pummeled punched rammed crashed thwacked slapped smacked pumped impacted attacked hacked swiped swung trounced tackled For "was, were" stood sat took up perched lay hung took place contained spanned loomed occupied remained stayed persisted befell (happened) bechanced occurred happened For "sat" slumped eased into lowered himself sank into sat himself was seated plopped down crouched squatted hunkered down roosted perched settled straddled sat astride sat bestride reposed leaned reclined lolled lounged sprawled lodged For "stood" got to his feet jumped up rose rose to his feet got up remained upright held herself erect stationed herself For "smelled" got scent of sensed sniffed detected snuffled snorted inhaled scented snuffed breathed in savored perceived discerned reeked stunk assaulted the nostrils For "tasted, drank" savored relished nibbled at tried sipped gulped took a deep swallow chewed ingested ruminated sampled sank his teeth into bit into crunched melted licked slurped chugged smacked suckled sucked swigged swilled chomped ground munched gnawed rended quaffed imbibed tippled nipped supped drained washed down swilled down guzzled down lapped up soused quenched For "heard" overheard caught detected picked up perceived apprehended eavesdropped listened listened in gathered heard tell of strained her ears harked harkened attended to took heed of took in gave audience to gave an ear to lent an ear to heard him out within earshot out of earshot For "lie down, lay" reclined eased onto flopped onto lay prone lolled luxuriated lay prostrate lay recumbent lay back rested reposed lazed sprawled lounged slouched slumped For "entered" stepped inside went in came in sailed in burst in set foot in/on broke in forced her way in intruded penetrated passed into For "left, exited" ran off walked off went out departed retreated decamped deserted repaired retired withdrew quit took off fled sallied forth bowed her way out For "turned" wheeled around twisted to one side whirled about rotated spun on her heels pivoted revolved swiveled reeled trundled circled eddied swirled sheered veered shifted divagated angled off shunted |
Use all of the words on each line in a sentence. Use any order and feel free to changes tenses and word forms.
Write an epigraph for a story or book. An epigraph is that cryptic bit of poetry at the beginning of a story that makes your brain hurt ;-) Often they're quotes or bits of other people's poetry that inspired the story, or connect some way.
Scientists have discovered how to alter human DNA with one animal characteristic (like cat night vision, bloodhound sense of smell) or physical feature (whiskers, fur, striped skin). (A second injection causes the characteristics to fail or cause unpredictable reactions between them.) So far it's perfectly safe and many people are choosing to do it.
Big Hairy Audacious Goal ... BHAG, pronounced bee-hag.
The position of world dictator is open. Your favorite bad guy (or good guy who may think he or she can do a better job!) wants the position.
The idea of Santa has spread with humanity into space onto alien worlds. Santa was already taxed to the max trying to deliver all the presents to the earthlings. Now he finds the task impossible. In fact he frightens some of the children on other planets with his naked pink skin and the fuzzy white growth on his face. What's the solution? Pick one planet, or come up with a master plan.
