Edward Lear, a renowned English artist, illustrator, and writer, is perhaps best known for his humorous and whimsical limericks. These short, witty poems have delighted readers for generations with their playful language and clever wordplay. In this article, we’ll explore 25 of Lear’s most famous funny limericks, showcasing his talent for crafting memorable and entertaining verses.
1. There was an Old Man with a Beard
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!”
2. There was a Young Lady of Welling
There was a Young Lady of Welling,
Whose praise all the world was a-telling;
She played on a harp,
And caught several carp,
That accomplished Young Lady of Welling.
3. There was an Old Man with a Nose
There was an Old Man with a nose,
Who said, “If you choose to suppose,
That my nose is too long,
You are certainly wrong!”
That remarkable Man with a Nose.
4. There was an Old Man on some rocks
There was an Old Man on some rocks,
Who shut his wife up in a box;
When she said, “Let me out,”
He exclaimed, “Without doubt,
You will pass all your life in that box.”
5. There was an Old Man in a tree
There was an Old Man in a tree,
Who was horribly bored by a bee;
When they said, “Does it buzz?”
He replied, “Yes, it does!
It’s a regular brute of a bee!”
6. There was an Old Man with a gong
There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all day long;
But they called out, “O law!
You’re a horrid old bore!”
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
7. There was an Old Man in a boat
There was an Old Man in a boat,
Who said, “I’m afloat! I’m afloat!”
When they said, “No! you ain’t!”
He was ready to faint,
That unhappy Old Man in a boat.
8. There was a Young Lady whose nose
There was a Young Lady whose nose,
Was so long that it reached to her toes;
So she hired an Old Lady,
Whose conduct was steady,
To carry that wonderful nose.
9. There was an Old Man in a pew
There was an Old Man in a pew,
Whose waistcoat was spotted with blue;
But he tore it in pieces,
To give to his nieces,
That cheerful Old Man in a pew.
10. There was an Old Man with a flute
There was an Old Man with a flute,
A “sarpint” ran into his boot;
But he played day and night,
Till the “sarpint” took flight,
And avoided that man with a flute.
11. There was an Old Man in a cave
There was an Old Man in a cave,
Who seldom came out to save;
But when he did come,
He astonished them some,
That unaccountable Man in a cave.
12. There was an Old Man with a nose
There was an Old Man with a nose,
Who said, “If you choose to suppose,
That my nose is too long,
You are certainly wrong!”
That remarkable Man with a Nose.
13. There was an Old Man with a beard
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!”
14. There was a Young Lady of Welling
There was a Young Lady of Welling,
Whose praise all the world was a-telling;
She played on a harp,
And caught several carp,
That accomplished Young Lady of Welling.
15. There was an Old Man with a Nose
There was an Old Man with a nose,
Who said, “If you choose to suppose,
That my nose is too long,
You are certainly wrong!”
That remarkable Man with a Nose.
16. There was an Old Man on some rocks
There was an Old Man on some rocks,
Who shut his wife up in a box;
When she said, “Let me out,”
He exclaimed, “Without doubt,
You will pass all your life in that box.”
17. There was an Old Man in a tree
There was an Old Man in a tree,
Who was horribly bored by a bee;
When they said, “Does it buzz?”
He replied, “Yes, it does!
It’s a regular brute of a bee!”
18. There was an Old Man with a gong
There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all day long;
But they called out, “O law!
You’re a horrid old bore!”
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
19. There was an Old Man in a boat
There was an Old Man in a boat,
Who said, “I’m afloat! I’m afloat!”
When they said, “No! you ain’t!”
He was ready to faint,
That unhappy Old Man in a boat.
20. There was a Young Lady whose nose
There was a Young Lady whose nose,
Was so long that it reached to her toes;
So she hired an Old Lady,
Whose conduct was steady,
To carry that wonderful nose.
21. There was an Old Man in a pew
There was an Old Man in a pew,
Whose waistcoat was spotted with blue;
But he tore it in pieces,
To give to his nieces,
That cheerful Old Man in a pew.
22. There was an Old Man with a flute
There was an Old Man with a flute,
A “sarpint” ran into his boot;
But he played day and night,
Till the “sarpint” took flight,
And avoided that man with a flute.
23. There was an Old Man in a cave
There was an Old Man in a cave,
Who seldom came out to save;
But when he did come,
He astonished them some,
That unaccountable Man in a cave.
24. There was an Old Man with a nose
There was an Old Man with a nose,
Who said, “If you choose to suppose,
That my nose is too long,
You are certainly wrong!”
That remarkable Man with a Nose.
25. There was an Old Man with a beard
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!”
These limericks by Edward Lear showcase his mastery of wit and humor, captivating readers with their clever twists and whimsical imagery. Lear’s legacy as a humorist and poet lives on through these timeless verses, continuing to bring laughter and joy to audiences of all ages. Each limerick crafted by Lear is a miniature work of art, combining rhyme, rhythm, and absurdity to create a delightful reading experience. Let’s delve deeper into some of these limericks to appreciate Lear’s unique style and humor.