March Slice of Life No. 16 * Poetry Friday.
I.
Slicing with green–
I have already selected something green to wear on Saturday, lest I forget and one of my kids or grandkids come by. I know they won’t forget. And since Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day, I’m celebrating with limericks and blessings on this Friday post.
II.
Laughing with limericks–
Today, I wrote four limericks. The first line is in bold because as well as being the first line of the stanza, it is also the title of the limerick.
There once was a cat named Rat
Who sat for a chat with Gnat.
When a bat flew by,
Gnat said, “I must fly!”
Then Rat–the cat– said, “Scat.”
© 2018 Alice Nine
There once was a funny bunny,
Who laughed on days that were sunny.
Cried he, “Beg your pardon”
To the man in the garden.
Now bunny’s no longer funny.
© 2018 Alice Nine
I once found a four-leaf clover
Friends said my trouble was over.
I sang a joyful tune
To a strange raccoon
Now more than my trouble is over.
© 2018 Alice Nine
I heard of a dog from Bonn
Who barked at a man named John.
His bark was so loud
It drew a great crowd
To bark with the dog from Bonn.
© 2018 Alice Nine
In your classroom, the limerick is a great vehicle to notice and intentionally apply some basics of poetic form — lines, syllables, meter, rhyme patterns. It also ties into word work with rhyming words, homophones (homonyms), and multi-meaning words.
How to Write a Limerick is a great resource with explicit instructions, easy to use with students. I reviewed the form and process and used the tips from this site to write my limericks today.
III.
Blessings to live with —
Today, in the tradition of the Irish, I share two blessings, from me to you. The first one is a biblical blessing. It is special to me because at my wedding –immediately after my husband and I were introduced as “Mr. and Mrs.”– we paused and these words were sung over us. The second blessing is a well-known Irish blessing; it’s one I’ve loved since sixth grade. I enjoy Irish blessings — the folklore, the deep faith, and the music of them when they are read.
_________
Related Post: Limericks and Blessings
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January – June 2018
Such fun limericks! And these two blessings have been favorites of mine. We closed each of your youth group meetings when I was a teen with the first blessing.
Beautiful blog post Alice, funny limericks, and lovely blessings–especially the Irish one which I am familiar with and love reading! Thanks for all.
Limericks and blessings — a joyous pairing! Are you familiar with Jan Richardson and her blessings? Thought you might like them: http://paintedprayerbook.com/category/blessings/
Oh, Tabatha, thank you for sharing Jan Richardson. I am going to enjoy reading her posts.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We are off to hear an Irish band play!
What a great idea to have students write limericks to apply some different forms and literary devices! I will be sharing this idea with my colleagues. Thanks for sharing these sweet little limericks with us!
Delightful, love the limericks and especially those two blessings….how wonderful to have an Irish heritage, St. Patrick’s Day passes me by every time…!?
Alice, as I am trying to wrap a poem in rhyme with friends who are not part of our poetry group but still want to contribute to my gallery, I find your rhyming so helpful. I keep saying that rhyme is not my forte but I want to bring closure to this group poem so I will keep trying. Your limericks flow beautifully and are clever but your blessings act as prayers at this hour of night. Thank you. (Don’t forget to send me a winter image poem for my gallery.)
I have never written a Limerick, you’ve inspired me to write a few. Your slice has also introduced me to the wikiHow to do anything…website. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Oh I love this post! So much positivity in the fun and the blessings. What a lucky girl am I to have stopped by. Have a great Green Day tomorrow
There is something special about an Irish Blessing. I have never tried writing limericks. Might have to give it a try one day.
Ah – the limericks are fun and the blessings bring back memories of my grandmother’s kitchen. She and my grandfather were Irish, so there were several blessings hanging on the walls. Maybe tomorrow will be a good day to follow your mentor text & try my hand at a blessing. Until then, Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!
I’m glad I popped over to your blog today, as we celebrate St. Patty’s Day in our home, too! I love the blessings you’ve shared; I remember the Irish one being displayed on our walls. My favorite prayer to recite is The Breastplate of Saint Patrick, too long to share here, but leaves me feeling protected and empowered each time I say it.
Limericks are such fun and can be quite challenging to write. I’m impressed with your creativity and productivity! I also love these blessings. I had great fun writing a blessing poem to rabbits during the February Ekphrastic Art challenge and would love to write another one. Thanks for a slice idea and for two potential mentor pieces! Wishing you the luck of the Irish today and all days!
So perhaps I should wait until I can say “Top of the morning to ye”, Alice, but I am trying to read many posts tonight with a busy day looming ahead. It’s lots of fun to read your limericks, and I know that first blessing, said every time at the end of church.The blessing is wonderful too. Here’s another: “May pleasure walk with you; May luck smile upon you; and May joy be at home in your heart.” Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Thank you, Linda. 🙂 I receive that blessing! And an early Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you too.