Limericks By Edward Lear - Part 1

More information and images can be found on our website: For those interested below are all the words to each limerick, in the order that they appear. They first appeared in “A Book of Nonsense“ by Edward Lear There was an Old Derry down Derry, Who loved to see little folks merry; So he made them a Book, And with laughter they shook At the fun of that Derry down Derry. 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. 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.“ There was a Young Person of Smyrna, Whose Grandmother threatened to burn her; But she seized on the Cat, And said, “Granny, burn that! “You incongruous Old Woman of Smyrna!“ There was an Old Person of Rheims, Who was troubled with horrible dreams; So, to keep him awake, They fed him with cake, Which amused that Old Person of Rheims. There was an Old Man on a hill, Who seldom, if ever, stood still; He ran up and down, In his Grandmother’s gown, Which adorned that Old Man on a hill. There was an Old Man of Leghorn, The smallest as ever was born; But quickly snapt up he, Was once by a puppy, Who devoured that Old Man of Leghorn. There was an Old Person of Chili, Whose conduct was painful and silly; He sate on the stairs, Eating apples and pears, That imprudent Old Person of Chili. 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. There was an Old Man with a gong, Who bumped at it all the day long; But they called out, “O law! You’re a horrid old bore!“ So they smashed that Old Man with a gong. There was an Old Man of Kilkenny, Who never had more than a penny; He spent all that money, In onions and honey, That wayward Old Man of Kilkenny. There was an Old Man who said, “How, ... Shall I flee from this horrible Cow? I will sit on this stile, And continue to smile, Which may soften the heart of that Cow.“ There was an Old Man of Columbia, Who was thirsty, and called out for some beer; But they brought it quite hot, In a small copper pot, Which disgusted that man of Columbia. There was a Young Lady of Troy, Whom several large flies did annoy; Some she killed with a thump, Some she drowned at the pump, And some she took with her to Troy. 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!“ There was a Young Lady of Hull, Who was chased by a virulent Bull; But she seized on a spade, And called out—“Who’s afraid!“ Which distracted that virulent Bull. There was an Old Lady of Chertsey, Who made a remarkable curtsey; She twirled round and round, Till she sunk underground, Which distressed all the people of Chertsey. There was an old person of Dutton, Whose head was so small as a button; So to make it look big, He purchased a wig, And rapidly rushed about Dutton.