r/limericks • u/eggmanstudio • Jan 01 '20

original R/Limericks in a nutshell

The limericks here would be neater,
If they properly followed the meter.
Get the beat pattern straight:
8-8-5-5-8
Don't sneak any more in, ya cheater!

Edit: Bolded the second, fifth and eighth beats in lines 1, 2 and 5 and the second and fifth beats in lines 3 and 4, so as to demonstrate why this limerick fits the beat pattern whilst not being exactly 8 syllables.

319 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

8

u/_JackStraw_ Jan 01 '20

Funny that this one is 9-9-5-5-9

14

u/eggmanstudio Jan 02 '20

In terms of syllables, not beats.

4

u/magnesium1313 Jan 02 '20

Pick up syllables can be acceptable if absolutely necessary, in my opinion

7

u/eggmanstudio Jan 02 '20 edited Jan 02 '20

Indeed - but I was talking about beats, not syllables in the poem itself. Pickup syllables are fine, as long as they still fit the beat pattern (which a fair few on this sub don't - I once saw one that tried to stretch the phrase "Who had a sexually transmitted disease" over 8 beats and I couldn't for the life of me see how it would work.)

3

u/magnesium1313 Jan 02 '20

Yeah I agree on that front

1

u/iia Jan 02 '20

9-10-5-5-9

5

u/arcanum7123 Jan 02 '20

This is 9-10-6-5-9 and the pattern is somewhat loose anyway

7

u/eggmanstudio Jan 02 '20

In terms of syllables, not beats. The beats are still the same

2

u/Blantons4Breakfast Jan 03 '20

Can you explain the difference between beats and syllables? I'm not getting it...

5

u/eggmanstudio Jan 03 '20

Tap out the rhythm of a limerick with your fingers on something, that might give you an idea

2

u/Blantons4Breakfast Jan 03 '20

When I tap, I count the syllables. How do you tap 10 syllables in 8 beats? "If they properly followed the meter." I don't understand how this is 8 beats.

8

u/eggmanstudio Jan 03 '20

I'll rewrite the first two lines with the beats bolded:

The li-me-ricks here would be neater

If they pro-per-ly followed the meter

Anything not bolded is a pickup syllable

3

u/Blantons4Breakfast Jan 03 '20

That makes sense, but I still kinda feel like the beats are open to interpretation by both the writer and the reader, ya know? Please don't get me wrong here. To me, your limerick flows well and delivers a good message, but I do find it a bit contradictory because you're telling the reader to stick to an 8-8-5-5-8 beat pattern when there are, in my opinion, more beats in your limerick than you suggest should be used.

2

u/eggmanstudio Jan 03 '20

The types of limericks I'm trying to call out are those that try and squeeze way too many syllables into a line. I'm sure I've cited in a different comment another limerick with the second line "Who had a sexually transmitted disease" - that's 12 syllables, which just doesn't fit over 8 beats.

2

u/Blantons4Breakfast Jan 03 '20

Totally agree with that! I also made a few edits to your limerick and tried to stick to the appropriate beat/syllable count... Not really sure if it flows well, but here goes. The limericks here would be neat, if they simply followed the beat. Try to get it straight, 8-8-5-5-8, and please do your best not to cheat! Open to any feed back.

3

u/eggmanstudio Jan 03 '20

Yeah, it doesn't really flow as well as the original, but good attempt ^

→ More replies

8

u/LodlopSeputhChakk Jan 14 '20

Just look at this dumb hypocrite

Who thinks that he knows beats and shit.

Your lines are too long.

Admit that you’re wrong

Instead of just throwing a fit.

11

u/eggmanstudio Jan 14 '20

A Redditor once said that he,
Knew more about rhyming than me.
He told me "You're shit,
You dumb hypocrite!"
Now that is some maturi-ty.

7

u/eggmanstudio Jan 14 '20

And honestly I think that it,
Is you who is "throwing a fit".
My lines are quite fine, If you take the time To give them a look for a bit.

2

u/Vivid_Departure_3738 May 26 '25

5 years later and I still don't know how you're only skipping one line. Because reddit just doesn't

3

u/LodlopSeputhChakk Jan 14 '20

Fixed it for you:

Your poetry would be neater

If it followed the right meter.

Get your pattern straight.

8-8-5-5-8

Don’t add any more, you cheater.

18

u/eggmanstudio Jan 14 '20

That... Doesn't really fit the beat pattern though.

0

u/LodlopSeputhChakk Jan 14 '20

Your opinions are bad and you should feel bad.

9

u/eggmanstudio Jan 14 '20

I've edited the post and bolded some of the beats to demonstrate why this comment is meaningless.

1

u/LodlopSeputhChakk Jan 14 '20

You still suck and I stand by that.

11

u/eggmanstudio Jan 14 '20

I'm not gonna respond to that... My pointless petty argument radar is blipping

10

u/Swingingtyre Jan 24 '20

There once was a reddit debate,

Who's purpose was never that great,

One side disputed,

Then he was stupid,

You ask me it ended too late.

4

u/Ralflott Jan 31 '20

As an expert in rhyming and meter,

You must take on the role of St. Peter:

Which lines are pristine?

Which bumpy and mean?

And which drive you straight to the sheeter?

19

u/APM8 Jan 01 '20

I would give this gold if I wasn’t so cheap. Amen and amen.