Limerick:

         The Limerick is probably the number one choice to use to get started. It was made popular by Edward Lear who was not only an artist, a musician, and an illustrator, but also a writer of funny poetry. He penned The Book of Nonsense in 1846, which is full of Limericks. He actually is the one who put this poetry form on the map. His book if full of Limericks and it has helped him amass nine million dollars. If you get a chance, check out his Limericks for inspiration.
( The Book of Nonsense   )

Usually this nonsense poetry form is perfect for a laugh. It has five lines with lines 1, 2, and 5 using nine syllables and they rhyme. Lines 3 and 4 have six syllables and rhyme. Use the last line as a punchline for the biggest laugh.

Limerick Info  


Chastushka:

         This is a Russian form of poetry and their equivalent to the Limerick. It’s not a popular form, but it’s a good one to flex your humorous funny bone!

It consists of four lines and it always rhymes. It can have different rhyming structures of ABAB, AABB, and in some instances even an ABCA.

Chastushka Info  


Clerihew:

         This form was invented by Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956). Bored one day in chemistry class, he wrote it for fun, and it took fifteen years before any of them were published. It’s usually a witty anecdote and pokes fun about a famous person. According to Bentley, a true clerihew will have the famous person’s name at the end of the first line, and the fun challenge is to rhyme any awkward names.

A clerihew has four lines and consists of rhyming couplets. The specific rhyming scheme is AABB.

Clerihew Info  


One Star Poetry (SLAM):

This type of poem is badly written on purpose. Pick a funny theme and run with it. The result produces a humorous poem that will have readers laughing out loud. Don’t forget to rate it as a one star!

Rhyme, or don’t rhyme. No syllable counts.