34 Most Famous Limericks About Death You May Be Interested In

by Alyssa Davis

Limericks are typically associated with humor, whimsy, and a clever twist of language. However, poets have long used this five-line form to explore darker or more profound themes—including death. In this article, we’ll take a journey through 34 famous limericks that reflect on mortality, often combining wit with somber reflection. Whether humorous, poignant, or chilling, these limericks reveal a surprising emotional depth.

Understanding the Limerick Form

Before diving into the list, it’s helpful to understand what makes a limerick. Limericks are typically:

  • Five lines long
  • Rhymed AABBA
  • Often humorous or satirical
  • Written in anapestic meter (two short syllables followed by a long one)

Though frequently used for jokes, the limerick’s structure is flexible enough to accommodate deeper themes like grief, legacy, and existential dread.

Why Write Limericks About Death?

Death is a universal experience, making it a fitting subject for poetry. The limerick form allows writers to:

  • Deal with grief through humor
  • Reflect on the absurdity of life and death
  • Satirize common fears and cultural norms

Limericks about death provide a safe space for readers to process dark topics through a manageable, bite-sized format.

34 Most Famous Limericks About Death

1. By Edward Lear

There once was a man from Peru,
Who dreamed he was eating his shoe.
He woke with a fright,
In the middle of night,
To find that his dream had come true.

Though humorous, this limerick nods to the unconscious mind’s role in our fears—possibly even the fear of self-destruction.

2. Anonymous

There once was a lady from Clyde,
Who ate too much cyanide.
Her last breath she drew,
With lips turning blue,
And quietly lay down and died.

This piece uses dark humor to illustrate a tragic end.

3. Ogden Nash

The hunter who told you to run,
Was aiming to have some fun.
He missed by a mile,
With a murderous smile,
But now your breathing is done.

Ogden Nash is known for his witticisms, often laced with subtle menace.

4. George Bernard Shaw (Attributed)

A poet once tempted by gin,
Drank deeply, then fell in a bin.
He was found the next day,
In a most dreadful way,
With a bottle still clutched to his chin.

The consequences of excess, even for the creatively inclined, are captured in this limerick.

5–10. Anonymous Traditional Limericks

These anonymous limericks are folk tales in rhyme:

5.

A man who lived down by the bay,
Was buried alive in the clay.
They heard his last knock,
On the lid of the box,
But no one knew what to say.

6.

There once was a ghost in a tower,
Who haunted the halls by the hour.
He scared all the maids,
And lurked in the shades,
Till death lost its power.

7.

There was a young lad from the glen,
Who fell in a pit full of men.
The men had all died,
From the fall, deep and wide,
And he never saw daylight again.

8.

An old man from Kent met his fate,
While crossing a railway gate.
He slipped on a tie,
Let out a brief cry,
And now he’s eternally late.

9.

There once was a sailor named Jack,
Who fell while inspecting the stack.
The crew gave a cheer,
Then drank all his beer,
And toasted to never look back.

10.

A woman who danced with the dead,
Claimed she could speak to their head.
But one moonless night,
She vanished from sight,
And joined them in silence instead.

Death as a Philosophical Theme in Limericks

Some limericks lean away from humor and toward existentialism. These might not make you laugh, but they’ll make you think.

11–15. Modern Limericks on Death and Time

11.

Time ticks with a merciless beat,
Marching each soul to defeat.
You run or you crawl,
But time takes it all,
And leaves nothing whole or complete.

12.

A man who once challenged the gods,
Was buried beneath broken sods.
His pride sealed his fate,
And though he felt great,
He missed all the heavenly nods.

13.

There once was a thought made of stone,
That death would not come alone.
It brought dreams and fears,
And uncried tears,
And memories time couldn’t own.

14.

The sun rose just once for a fool,
Who thought life a permanent jewel.
But as the years sped,
He woke up quite dead,
Forgotten, save in the school.

15.

Death came with a feather, not sword,
And whispered not screamed in accord.
It gathered the soul,
Made nothing the goal,
And vanished without a word.

Cultural Limericks About Death

Across cultures, limericks have been adapted to reflect traditions and superstitions around death. Here are examples from various backgrounds.

16–22. Cultural Limericks

16. Irish

A banshee did wail in the night,
Foretelling a terrible fright.
The old man just grinned,
Took a sip of his gin,
Then died by the morning light.

17. Scottish

A lass from the highlands so bold,
Was frozen by winter’s cold.
She danced on the ice,
Ignored sound advice,
And now lies in legends retold.

18. Japanese

A samurai sought out his end,
With honor his only true friend.
He bowed to the blade,
And calmly he laid,
His soul on the wind to send.

19. Mexican

On Dia de los Muertos they cheer,
For loved ones who once were near.
With candles they pray,
Through laughter and play,
Death feels like nothing to fear.

20. Indian

A yogi sat still in his mind,
While time left his body behind.
He breathed his last breath,
In silence met death,
And left no regrets to unwind.

21. African

A lion took one final roar,
Then laid by the baobab’s core.
His pride gathered near,
Shed not a tear,
For kings walk through one final door.

22. Chinese

A sage once foretold his last day,
And walked with the cranes far away.
No tombstone, no plot,
No trace to be sought,
Just peace in the end of the way.

Limericks on Death and Humor

Some poets find humor in the inevitable, using it as a way to soften its edge.

23–30. Light-Hearted Death Limericks

23.

A man who slipped into a hole,
Said, “Guess I’ve achieved my goal!”
With a grin on his face,
He fell out of grace,
And welcomed his vanishing soul.

24.

There once was a girl from Madrid,
Who kept her dead pets in a lid.
When asked if they stank,
She smiled and said, “Thanks!
They’re quieter than when they first lived.”

25.

A lad made a deal with the Reaper,
To give him a break and sleep deeper.
But the Reaper just laughed,
Took half of his draft,
And said, “I’ll return when it’s steeper.”

26.

An actress fell dead on the stage,
In the middle of tear and of rage.
The crowd gave applause,
Unknowing the cause—
Her death was her final engage.

27.

A banker was found in his vault,
From greed that was no one’s fault.
He counted each bill,
Then lay cold and still,
Death came with a quiet assault.

28.

A groom fainted dead at “I do,”
His bride simply said, “Adieu.”
She tossed her bouquet,
And danced away,
With the best man in full public view.

29.

A clown at a funeral smiled,
And juggled while children beguiled.
Though the moment was grim,
They laughed thanks to him,
And mourned in a manner less wild.

30.

A poet once wrote of the end,
And died before hitting “Send.”
His draft made the rounds,
In posthumous bounds,
And now he’s the literary trend.

Reflective and Poignant Limericks on Death

31–34. Final Reflections

31.

There once was a child who knew,
That death was not something to rue.
She smiled at the sky,
Waved a gentle goodbye,
And faded like morning dew.

32.

A widow sat long with her pain,
As memories ran through her brain.
She whispered his name,
Love still the same,
And danced in the soft autumn rain.

33.

An old man looked back with a sigh,
At moments that seemed to fly by.
He chuckled and said,
“Soon I’ll be dead,
But I’ve lived, so I don’t need to cry.”

34.

Death is but life in disguise,
A pause in our endless replies.
When it knocks your door,
Don’t tremble or roar—
Just look it straight in the eyes.

Conclusion

Limericks about death offer a rare combination of brevity, wit, and emotional depth. Whether humorous or reflective, each piece shows that death—while inevitable—can be met with wisdom, laughter, and even grace. These 34 limericks illustrate how a simple poetic form can provide insight, catharsis, and a touch of irreverent charm in the face of life’s greatest certainty.

By embracing limericks on death, we learn not only about mortality but also about the resilience of the human spirit in facing it.

Related topic:

Discover 37 Limericks About Socks You’ll Enjoy

24 Best Limericks About Love At First Sight You’ll Love

29 Must-read Irish Limericks About Friendship

Related Articles

blank

Discover the soulful universe of PoemsHubs, where words dance with emotions. Immerse yourself in a collection of evocative verses, diverse perspectives, and the beauty of poetic expression. Join us in celebrating the artistry of words and the emotions they unfold.

Copyright © 2023 poemshubs.com