Demon Cycle Limericks

Those of you following the most recent contest thread probably noticed Dani’s contest suggestion:

I think you should do a Demon Cycle limerick contest.
Here’s my entry:

There once was a Warder from Miln
Who warmed up his pants in a kiln
He heard it from Cob
Who had a cold nob
And it kept his John Thomas from chill’n

We both laughed our asses off about that, and Dani spent the rest of the night looking immensely pleased with her cleverness. Several others on the comment thread agreed that was a great idea for a contest.

Of course, it would seem like nepotism and insider trading if Dani were to win the mini-contest, so the contest to suggest the next contest is still ongoing. In the meantime, though, I keep thinking of funny limericks, and I’m willing to wager some of you are, too. It would bring such joy into my life to get to read them.

You can place your limericks in the comments section. I’ll pick a favorite or two and send signed Warded Man paperbacks to the authors with their limericks hand written above my signature. I may also write some of the funnier ones on the bookplates I send out to people. I am always trying to think of clever things to write on them.

Don’t fret too much about keeping your limericks clean. According to Wikipedia, Limericks are by their very nature obscene:

Gershon Legman, who compiled the largest and most scholarly anthology, held that the true limerick as a folk form is always obscene, and cites similar opinions by Arnold Bennett and George Bernard Shaw, describing the clean limerick as a periodic fad and object of magazine contests, rarely rising above mediocrity. From a folkloric point of view, the form is essentially transgressive; violation of taboo is part of its function.

I’ll start:

There once was a girl from Cutter’s Hollow
Whose nethers had fallen quite fallow
She found a young man
She thought’d lend a hand
But it seemed he would much rather wallow

Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:39 am by PeatB
Filed under Contests, Craft, Fan Art, Fans, Warded Art, Writing
77 Comments »

77 responses to “Demon Cycle Limericks”

  1. Well, I’m not really good in limericks, because of the rhymes. I hate rhyming, because I’m not able to do it properly. I’m like William the bloody 😉
    Anyway, here’s my try.

    Once there was a painted man.
    The Corelings, away, they ran.
    He taught the people to fight
    and beat their terrible fright.
    Together they say: Yes, we can!

    See? What a bad one…

    As yound Rojer saw Arlen fight,
    he thought by himself: What a sight!
    There was now one question for him:
    “Is he even tatooed on his thing?”
    Only Leesha saw that in the night.

    Okay, old punchline. 😀

    Posted by Iris, on January 17th, 2011 at 10:50 am
  2. Because I’m ill and stuck at home I couldn’t help but write another – sorry! Also, be prepared for some serious butchery of the English language!

    A short, song-flavoured, limerickal history.
    [Or]
    A long and arduous edit.

    As the demons arose from the core,
    in numbers ne’er witnessed before,
    desecrating the land –
    alagai Ka’s demand –
    ’till they’re faced with the Wards they abhor.

    The Science of men became scattered
    t’the winds, as their armies were shattered.
    But the magic of old,
    down years told and retold;
    a bastion, against which death battered.

    As the Wards of old give slight reprieve –
    mankind allowed slight room to breathe.
    Yet the world becomes small;
    without succour to call
    one must sleep in a circle’s tight weave.

    But as strong steel is forged in hot fire;
    Deliverance will climb from the pyre.
    A bright hope in the night
    chose to rise up and fight,
    t’make the world, for some, seem much less dire.

    Marking his skin, taking battle
    to the demons who treat us as cattle.
    Saving lives by the score
    teaching them t’kill more,
    With nought but his horse as his chattel.

    So when night closes in ’round your camps –
    and you check the last words, dim the lamps –
    give a thought to young Bales,
    heart of numerous tales,
    as your pipes receive their final tamps.

    For I’m trying to say with this song,
    Arlen’s meeting with Leesha? Quite wrong.
    Alone fighting demons,
    For numerous seasons,
    Hed’ve ne’er even lasted /that/ long.

    Posted by Elicius, on January 17th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
  3. Just flicking through these, I noticed the comment from Lisa Childs about my limerick 🙂 Thankyou, and thanks for noticing the typo lol

    Posted by WoodyC, on January 17th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
  4. Darnit, I have a typo too [probably more’n one, but still….] should read, on the last line:

    he’d’ve ne’er even lasted /that/ long.

    Posted by Elicius, on January 17th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
  5. First of all, I’m sorry for all of the possible nonsense and typos I’ve done (below) – my only excuse is that I’m from Poland and I was having a serious conflict of pronunciation/written word. Besides that, I think that I’ve make a fine limerick(I hope:P):

    There once was a girl named Leesha
    that was lookin’ fo’ someone to please ‘er
    with the help of some couzi
    she’d felt so much cosy
    that you’d do ‘er ’til sunrise, my dear sir

    ^What do you think about it, the Great Ones?:d

    Posted by UncleSheo, on January 17th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
  6. I have yet anouther riddle:-

    there once was a man called Arlen
    he used to be such a darlin
    he lost his mum
    and stopped being fun
    all because of a nasty old coreling

    Posted by shaun chilley, on January 17th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
  7. Just realized I purloined Dani’s Cob-nob rhyme. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. The limericks are all mixed up in my head. I revised the affected limerick —

    Inevera and Leesha fought over Jardir
    It’d be funny if he turned out queer
    He might fancy the Tender
    Steal kisses from Rojer
    Should we start calling him jardiniere?

    Posted by mia, on January 18th, 2011 at 11:46 am
  8. There once was a fiddler named Rojer
    Who could charm demon to toddler to codger,
    With the demons entranced, he turned to romance,
    And got it from Jardir’s niece and hot daughter.

    Posted by Alex Pualani, on January 21st, 2011 at 7:47 pm
  9. Last three now

    There once was a woman called renna
    Who was interested in tattoos in henna
    She had two sisters
    Several more blisters
    She wasn’t even worth a tenner.

    There once was a feisty herb witch,
    Whose mother was a complete bitch
    She made a lot of paper
    She blew demons to vapour
    But her father was very rich

    There once lived a fat man
    Of the name Abban
    He fought in a war
    Then fell off a wall
    Stumbling is now all he can.

    Posted by Luke F, on January 23rd, 2011 at 6:04 am
  10. i meant last three from me lol

    Posted by Luke F, on January 23rd, 2011 at 6:04 am
  11. Arrrgh. I thought I had it out of my system man….but here I am, least bi-daily, to check on how the competition is going! There’s been some wicked ones which have made me chuckle, but also put two more ideas in my head. May’s well chuck’em in the hat, eh?

    Answering the eternal question:

    A sleep-walker wanders far from bed,
    with naught but a cap upon his head.
    He crosses the wards,
    but the fiery hordes,
    feared his warded truncheon so they fled.

    ———————————————————-
    And favourite of my single stanza limericks-with-pretentious-names;

    Unexpected Autumnal Foliage:

    Walking through the Hollow comes Halfgrip,
    Entertaining crowds with a back-flip,
    But his trews were untied
    and the cold air belied
    something Rojer would boast he could equip!

    Posted by Elicius, on January 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 am
  12. There once was a lad from the Brook
    For whom the ladies shivered and shook
    When they got in his trousers
    They’d stay there for hours
    And Warding was all that it took.

    Posted by Jonathan, on January 25th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
  13. Jonathan …. dude, that rocks.

    Posted by Elicius, on January 26th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
  14. All the limericks have rocked. There has been much laughter in the Brett household over this. I will pick a couple for prizes as soon as I can come up for air. Drowning in work at the moment, but don’t doubt that I am reading and loving every one.

    Keep ’em coming!

    Posted by Peat, on January 26th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
  15. Already have the book but I just can’t stop. Need to join limericks anonymous…

    Gotta say there’s some hot men in these books
    Men with talent, with wit, with good looks
    Arlen – dark and commanding
    Gared – tall and imposing
    Makes all tingly girls’ crannies and nooks

    Flip the pages for women to fancy
    Eat your heart out Jolie, Fox or Halle
    They got nothing on Leesha
    Renna or Inevera
    How would Bruna look in a bikini?

    The mind demon is so very scary
    On top of it all it’s quite hairy
    But Jardir would much rather
    Have a demon encounter
    Than go home and be nagged by his honey.

    There once was a hubby named Erny
    Whose wife made him feel weak and tiny
    But he grew a huge pair
    Grabbed the shrew by the hair
    Now he’s tough and he’s firm and he’s manly.

    Posted by mia, on January 27th, 2011 at 12:47 am
  16. There was once an old healer named Bruna
    Who repelled feisty men all the sooner
    With blinding powder to the eyes
    And a boot between the thighs
    In response to the way that they mooned her.

    Posted by Liz Canning, on February 1st, 2011 at 2:42 pm
  17. This one is a bit on the wrong side but it made me chuckle;

    Arlen Bales from the Hollow
    couldn’t get Renna to swallow
    he gave her some strife
    so she pulled out her knife
    and left him there to wallow

    * I Read back through the others before I posted to check no one had already done a similar one and noticed the opening starter had 2 of the same rhyming words (but different content) – didn’t copy I promise 🙂

    I will try think of more as it is quite addictive and my first attempt wasn’t a proper limerick.

    Posted by Lisa Childs, on February 2nd, 2011 at 5:11 pm
  18. There was an old hag named Bruna
    She should’ve died much much sooner
    She got down with a demon
    It soon lost it’s feeling
    Eyes never again saw it’s doo-da

    Posted by Alex Quinn, on February 3rd, 2011 at 4:35 am
  19. Elona’s back windows are boarded
    For which she was soon rewarded
    When all are working
    With a coreling she starts jerking
    But it turns out her condoms are warded

    Has anyone got any 1 syllable words for a demon?

    Posted by Alex Quinn, on February 3rd, 2011 at 4:49 am
  20. Just finished The Great Bazaar and got into a limerick-writing mood…

    The Man was first painted or warded
    A spear in the desert he wielded
    Be the sun rise or set
    The ordeal shall be met
    And now war in the daylight gets started.

    The Painted Man’s journey is arduous
    And becoming increasingly dangerous
    Be he demon or man
    With some courage he can
    Thwart the core and emerge all victorious

    In Krasia life must be quite hard
    If you’re strong you must fight not just ward
    And if not you’re khaffit
    No respect, not a bit
    And the diet is strict so no lard

    If you find yourself out after dark
    Ditch your dog coz he’ll make noise and bark
    Then the demons’ll come
    And your ass will be chum
    So run fast, go ahead, on your mark!

    Posted by mia, on February 7th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
  21. A little bird told me today is your birthday
    I hope it’s all merry and joyful and gay
    Don’t forget to eat cake
    Ice cream — all you can take
    Have a drink, yes indulge, and go play.

    A birthday limerick…

    Posted by mia, on February 8th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
  22. there once was a demon from the core
    whose crouch was awfully sore
    for he was made from rock
    and his balls did swing and knock
    oh how loud he could roar

    Posted by Elliot, on February 14th, 2011 at 1:24 am
  23. there once was a merchant who was fat
    abban would much rather eat than chat
    yet he enjoyed life
    for he had many pretty wives
    and he never had to go fight in demon combat

    Posted by Elliot, on February 14th, 2011 at 1:38 am
  24. I already posted one, but here’s another.

    There was a man from the Krasian Fort
    Whose shame was that he was short
    But when it came to his manhood
    At that he was damn good
    And he was every girl’s favorite sport.

    Posted by Jonathan, on February 16th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
  25. Here’s one about an actual character.

    Jardir was the Savior, it’s true
    And his spear looked shiny and new
    When he thrust it out
    The girls would shout
    My how they wanted it, too.

    Posted by Jonathan, on February 16th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
  26. I just saw that mine got posted repeatedly. My apologies to everyone. At the time, I thought my internet was malfunctioning because they didn’t post so I tried a few times. I’m really sorry. I thought they didn’t even get posted at all until now.

    Posted by mia, on February 22nd, 2011 at 12:45 am
  27. Okay, I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it….

    A girl from the greater forbidding,
    Was running an’ sliding and skidding,
    Through the woods of a night,
    Though none knew of her plight,
    To be honest, who was she kidding?

    She’d tried to quell demons with her tune
    The melody – sweet – none could impugn,
    But a single discord
    Lost the minds of the horde
    and her innards, about, would soon be strewn.

    Through the mists came a motley’d man,
    In his hand (digits short of a span),
    He brandished his bow
    To continue the show
    His apprentice foolishly began.

    As the creatures all drew back in pain,
    Rojer took her aside to explain,
    This grand show of power
    Sparked fire in his tower
    Which could ne’er be quite quenched by the rain.

    Being thankful for the intercession
    but less for his lack of discretion
    She motioned with her first
    (Rojer soon got the gist)
    And no-one saw him for the next four days, after which he required treatment for some severe blisters.

    Posted by Elicius, on February 22nd, 2011 at 8:21 am