<P> A limerick is a form of verse , often humorous and sometimes obscene , in five - line , predominantly anapestic meter with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA , in which the first , second and fifth line rhyme , while the third and fourth lines are shorter and share a different rhyme . The following example is a limerick of unknown origin : </P>
<P> A limerick is a form of verse , often humorous and sometimes obscene , in five - line , predominantly anapestic meter with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA , in which the first , second and fifth line rhyme , while the third and fourth lines are shorter and share a different rhyme . The following example is a limerick of unknown origin : </P>
how long does a limerick have to be
how long does a limerick have to be
five - line
five - line