Limerick, Poetic Form Exercise Options

[Larry]

He gave wings to them so they could save
sailors from a dark, cold briny grave
for the faith they restore
when a ship nears the shore;
though sea-birds, they are still the land’s slave.

[JustDaniel]

That sea-birds are truly land-slaves
is the reason some sailors have graves
on the land, not the sea;
when they near land, they see
all the gulls, terns or grebes, and they're saved.

[Larry]

Saving grebes and gulls is a good turn
for they eat wasted scraps but they spurn
all the trash which now floats
from the big party boats
and that, people can pick up and burn.

[Larry]

People pick up and burn every bridge
or perhaps they've just gone to the fridge
but they're late coming back
so I'll sit here and hack
'till they get back from their pilgrimage.

[JustDaniel]

To the pilgrim age we'll not return,
and nary a witch will we burn
'cause their bodies are dry
and we could scorch our eye
if we're acting with great unconcern.

[Larry]

Acting with unconcern, we might grate
on a real witch’s nerves. It’s too late
for apologies when
her reactions begin
to give one a mouse or a frog’s trait.

[JustDaniel]

If you can't tell a frog from a mouse
I'm afraid for the health of your spouse;
your fantasy-kisses
to raise up a princess
caused more vermin to swarm at your house.

[Larry]

If your house has caused vermin to swarm
then, perhaps, you live out on a farm
where Ms. Nature runs wild
and upon you she’s smiled
because balance is part of your charm.

[JustDaniel]

If you're charmed by a person's imbalance
will she make a dress from a valance,
and will you tell you're ma'am
that you don't give a damn
when she lures you with all of her talents?

[Larry]

If her talents are used for a lure
winsome dalliance you must abjure
‘cause it’s curtains, I guess
and there is no redress
when your wife comes at you with a skewer.

[JustDaniel]

If your wife comes at you with a skewer
't would be better to live in the sewer
and float on your raft...
but don't take a draught
of the flotsam, and don't be a chewer!

[Larry]

If eschewing the flotsam which passes
while you’re holding your nose from the gasses;
how will you reach the shore
utilizing one oar
when you’ve flunked all of your rowing classes?

[JustDaniel]

If your classes are growing too fast
your school buildings may soon be precast
and your taxes will grow
just to keep status quo
and the old neighborhoods cannot last.

[Larry]

Your old neighborhoods never will last
‘cause your neighbors are hoods from the past
who’ve retained their old habits
of breeding like rabbits
until their progeny becomes vast.

[JustDaniel]

If you're into growing your progeny
you won't likely keep homogeneity
'cause society's changed
and it's all rearranged
so that most folks prefer spontaneity

[Larry]

Spontaneity most folks prefer
may not ever be what will occur,
we’re subconsciously led
by what’s heard, seen or read
and the moment may not have a spur.

[JustDaniel]

Well, my moments are needing a spur,
and I can't write a piece that's what fer
'cause my time is so stretched
and my muse seems t'have fetched
some bard with a mean and loud Grrrr.

[Larry]

If it seems you have fetched a mean bard
listen to what he’s saying real hard,
he starts with a loud Grrr
but talks slow to aver
the soft “ate” at the end you’d discard.

[JustDaniel]

If you toss in the end what you ate
it is likely you'll drop off some weight,
but bulimia ain't
what to do lest constraints
on your stomach and bowels seal your fate.

[Larry]

If your stomach and bowels seal your fate
then I'm guessing for me it's too late
'cause I'm sure doctors can't
do a gastric transplant
so I'll ask them to install a gate.