Limerick Plot (Limerick-Off Monday)

It’s Limerick-Off time, once again. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same first line. Then you post your limerick here and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.

The best submission will be crowned Limerick Of The Week. (Here’s last week’s Limerick Of The Week Winner plus the Honorable Mentions.)

How will your poems be judged? By meter, rhyme, and cleverness. (If you’re feeling a bit fuzzy about limerick writing rules, here are two excellent resources: OEDILF on Writing A Limerick and Speedy Snail’s Limerick Rhythm and Meter.)

I’ll announce the Limerick of the Week Winner right before I post next week’s Limerick-Off. So that gives you a full week to submit your clever, polished verse.

I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:

A fellow was hatching a plot…

or

A woman was hatching a plot…

Here’s mine:

Limerick Plot
By Madeleine Begun Kane

A fellow was hatching a plot
To kidnap a rich fam’ly’s tot.
But the germ-fearing man
Abandoned his plan.
Seems the youngster was rescued by snot.

Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity on my Facebook Limerick-Off post.

To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please send me an email requesting the alerts. You’ll find my email address on the upper right sidebar, in the “Author” section just below my Limerick-Offs button. Thanks!

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65 Responses to “Limerick Plot (Limerick-Off Monday)”

  1. Linkmeister says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To end the world’s fast-moving rot
    “Let’s cut all our losses
    Let go all the bosses
    And install a wholly new lot!”

  2. A fellow was hatching a plot
    to lose his protruberant pot
    ‘You should go on a diet,
    you really must try it’
    said his wife ‘or divorce on the spot’

  3. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    Mad, Lord nose your limerick is funny! ;^D

    A woman was hatching a plot,
    But inevitably she was caught;
    Guinevere was her name.
    She was heard to exclaim,
    “It’s your fault, Lancelot ~ thanks a lot!”

  4. Matty says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    to marry a man who was hot
    when she offered a lay
    the gent walked away
    a beautiful gal she was not

  5. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To make sure her ex-husband got aught:
    They were just kissin’ cousins,
    He’d claimed {“had” by the dozens}.
    Lovers caught: “Cuz” was hot! (Maybe not.)

  6. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot,
    Pounced on wife with her lover ~ for naught;
    They were caught on the cot
    In a knot: she said haught-
    Ily, “Babe, you were hot ~ so I thought…”

  7. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot,
    The details of which were ill thought
    Out: so caught with the daught-
    Er of his boss, he’d got her
    In bed. Now he’s jobless, distraught.

  8. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To take over the world, at a trot.
    The Pale Rider, ahorse,
    Gained through cunning and force
    But won not: God’s the best polyglot.

  9. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To gain much fame, acclaim which she sought:
    A hot sot with C. Sheen,
    Who turned mean (so she’s seen);
    Now she’s facing a legal onslaught.

  10. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot,
    Had this explanation when caught:
    “This is what I was taught ~
    If you’re bought, you STAY bought!
    Where’s our ethics…you’re staring: so, what?!”

  11. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A woman was hatching a plot;
    She connived, schemed, and carefully wrought
    Iron-clad machinations
    Fueled by bone-deep frustrations
    With her x-rays: X rated, she thought.

  12. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot.
    He, a punster, albeit cool, hot;
    When his date he escorted
    To the bar, he retorted,
    “Ah, my dear, you’re so lush-cious and so[ugh]t…

    After ~ drinking your way through four kegs,
    It’s a wonder you’re still on your legs.
    But your dress is divine!
    (Please don’t whine in your wine.)
    You look fine! Shall we dine? Ah, quail eggs!”

  13. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    And was straight to a magistrate brought.
    “But Your Honor, I beg
    Leniency: ’tis an egg
    I’ve been hatching!” he cried, overwrought.

    “You can see it’s not been overeasy,
    As eggs make me wheeze and feel queasy ~
    Thoughts scrambled, nose runny,
    Disposition not sunny
    (Side up). It’s her fault, sly and sleazy!

    Egged me on, said we’d never be caught
    Breeding hens on the farm that I’d bought,
    And so cheep by the dozen!
    Swore my everlovin’ cousin,
    But it’s me now accused of her plot!

    Pardon me, sir, I’m feeling distraught.
    Tell me straight: do I stand a good shot
    At release by next year?”
    Tears rolled down, mixed with fear.
    And the dark judge intoned, “You are not

    Quite the simpleton you are presenting
    (It’s this Court’s loss of time I’m resenting),
    You’re much worse! What a dolt;
    I’m prescribing a volt
    Of electrical current, preventing

    A recurrence of you ‘fore this Court
    In the future: my patience is short.”
    “Eggs-tra burden, you say,
    Amps should tamp down my play?”
    Said the fellow, indignant, mid snort:

    “I feared you, though innocent, Judge!
    It’s clear you’re refusing to budge
    From your lofty, high perch,
    Leaving me in the lurch:
    I’ve no recourse ‘cept nursing a grudge

    IF your sentencing I should survive.
    But my cousin, conniver, will thrive,
    At you she’ll bat her lashes
    In the midst of my ashes!”
    He lamented, “YOU’LL both be alive.”

  14. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot,
    Thought he’d crossed every T, I-eyed each dot:
    But propelled by need, greed,
    Well-laid plans went to seed ~
    Soon was caught doing things he ought not.

  15. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To ensure her opponent got caught.
    Vicious story was slanted,
    Fake “facts” purchased, planted ~
    He fought, and survived her hot rot.

  16. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    But confused it with what it was not:
    He said, “Faugh!” to faux foes,
    Thus creating new woes
    Which, unwisely, he promptly forgot.

  17. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    That resembled a Gordian knot
    Quite complex in design;
    A huge, red warning sign:
    Danger-fraught, in her knot she’d be caught.

  18. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A small boy was hatching a plot
    Which depended on not getting caught.
    It involved bugs and worms,
    Girlish squirms, shrieks (and germs)…
    Glee! Taut tot’s class, that day, went untaught.

  19. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot;
    A good one? He learned it was not:
    Post-cavort, he lamented,
    “My equipment’s been dented!”
    She’d vented, intent on hot cot.

  20. Peter M says:

    That is a hysterical limerick, Madeleine.

  21. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    (She was haute and quite hot, so she thought):
    As a tax-dodging snot,
    Took her shot and was caught.
    Scot-free? Not: haute no longer, nor hot.

  22. Peter M says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    He’d get rich as a seller of pot
    It seemed a sure bet
    But he ended in debt
    Seems the market had shifted to khat

  23. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    Granny, this one’s for you:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To concoct limericks on the spot;
    For The Muse must be pleased
    And appeased, never teased,
    So that each fleeting line can be caught :)

  24. madkane says:

    Thanks for your kind words about my limerick Peter and Patrice! And thanks everyone for your limericks! Please keep them coming and cross-post on my Facebook post of you’re active on Facebook. Thanks again!

  25. Veralynne Pepper says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To play golf and not dig a divot
    He tried and he tried
    But, in the end, he just lied
    And paid for the damage he’d wrought.

  26. Veralynne Pepper says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    For a murder–the idea was hot!
    She followed it through
    Not knowing what else to do
    In jail now for life she’ll just rot.

  27. Martin H says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To expose his boss as a clot.
    His published letter
    Claimed he could do better,
    But he’d need a luxury yacht.

  28. dancinfool says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    “Change my flabby body to hot”
    She had liposuction
    And big boobs construction,
    But ended up with a blood clot.

  29. nothstine says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    For a common-cold cure, when she thought:
    “When the temperature freezes,
    And then somebody sneezes,
    They’ll think it’s a cure, but it’s snot.”

  30. A woman was hatching a plot,
    As she watched a vain fellow gavotte
    Our gal, Carly Simon,
    Started singin’ and rhymin’,
    Her song hit the number one slot

  31. Victoria says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    involving his girlfriend named Dot
    he’d take her to Reno
    and make a bambino
    the she’d have to agree: “Tie the knot!”

    Patrice, wow! The limerick bug took over. Fun ones I’ve read so far.

  32. a fellow was hatching a plot
    to steal something he had not got
    so he went on the prowl
    but was met with a growl
    as a rottweiler hit the jackpot

  33. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    Thanks, Victoria! Yes, I was on a roll :) I enjoyed your winning entry from last week :)

  34. Rinkly Rimes says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To explain what he saw in a blot.
    He saw the moustache
    Of that clever Rorschach
    Who said ‘What a load of old rot!’

  35. A fellow was hatching a plot,
    Panetta ordered the fatal shot,
    that did get Osama,
    and Barack Obama,
    was leftl stirring some other pot!

  36. Mama Zen says:

    Oh, that’s hilarious!

  37. hansi says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To grow a shit-load of really good pot
    He got some good seed
    To grow the best weed
    But when the police came, it was all for naught.

  38. Ava says:

    I am in hysterics. I love it so much! My potluck: Protect

  39. earlybird says:

    Love yours Mad.

    A woman was hatching a plot
    to pepper her man with lead shot.
    She thought she’d have fun
    with a sawn-off shot gun,
    then boil his remains in a pot.

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    to sever the marital knot.
    He still had a doubt,
    but his wife found out
    and ran off with all that he’d got.

  40. Matty says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    to get rid of all that he got
    the trash truck came by
    then he said with a sigh
    “it seems that I sure have a lot”

  41. Jessica says:

    I love the punchline! Children will love it too.

    Dark Eyes

  42. Versebender says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To have a young girl on the spot
    Said she, “You’re quite bold
    But decades too old
    But grandma might be worth a shot”

  43. scott says:

    “rescued by snot” too funny Mad! sounds like the name of a European punk rock band.

    A woman was hatching a plot,
    it seems she’s been scratching a lot,
    since her husband Marty,
    went to that stag party.
    Now apparently Marty’s been shot.

  44. Sally Franz says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To flaunt her body, quite hot
    With sequins and feathers
    lace, chains and leathers
    But the family dog was all that she caught
    (works is plot is pronounced plawt or plaht)

  45. Nicole says:

    I cannot ever begin to find the talent in me for a limerick, but yours are completely divine!

  46. A fellow was hatching a plot
    To capture a wife who was hot.
    A gal he could mold
    Who would do as she’s told,
    And argue with him she would not.
    .
    A woman was hatching a plot
    To shake off an arrogant snot,
    His life she had shared
    As a trophy he snared…
    Oh, such trouble he’d actually caught!

    Loved your poem this week, Madeleine…just had to use ‘snot’ myself…:)

    Lynette
    Imagination Lane

  47. Johanna Richmond says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To make GOP number one spot
    So she waged war on gays,
    Reproduction rights days,
    And called victims of rape hot to trot.

  48. Johanna Richmond says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    Which backfired more often than not;
    If she’d only concede
    Her misdeed won’t succeed
    When its seed is fleshed out smoking pot.

  49. Johanna Richmond says:

    Sorry, Mad — I must have posted my second one twice (the first time, it didn’t seem to take but guess it did).

    Note From Mad Kane: No problem — I deleted one of them.

  50. a lady was hatching a plot
    for lovely she was not
    and in make up she smiled
    while they smirked, non-beguiled
    and laughed at her on the spot

  51. A.B. Thomas says:

    now that there’s darn funny!

  52. Dr. Goose says:

    A woman was hatching a plot
    For seducing a boy who was hot:
    “I’ll have him, me thinks,
    After plying with drinks
    At some out-of-the-way little boîte.”

  53. Dr. Goose says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To become the new Sultan of Swat,
    So each day that he played,
    A nutritional aid
    He would mix in and drink up a lot.

  54. Granny Smith says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To tutor his parrot a lot.
    She not only could squawk.
    In nine tongues she could talk.
    She’s known as a true Polly-glot.

  55. Granny Smith says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To hide all his assets, the lot.
    To hold them secure
    He chose, to be sure,
    One password – which he then forgot

  56. scott says:

    very funny Granny S- I think I’ll change my password to pollyglot.

  57. Johanna Richmond says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot,
    Didn’t ask if he should or should not;
    When his wife got the drift,
    Retribution was swift;
    Now the man and his plan‘s gone to pot.

  58. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    If His Fate Hadn’t Been SEALed?

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    When by a sharp waitress was caught:
    “Just call me Mosquito,
    I’m here incognito –
    Don’t give me away [as you ought]…

    I hate all you folk in New York;
    Complacent and weak, you eat pork!
    I’m your enemy,
    There’s plenty of me…”
    She stabbed him: used torque on that fork.

  59. madkane says:

    Thanks everyone for your kind words and fun limericks. Please keep them coming. The limericks, I mean. :)

    I don’t pick Limerick of the Week until Sunday, so you have plenty of time to participate!

  60. Johanna Richmond says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    (Cruel, evil, corrupt, dot, dot, dot);
    But for once folks cried out,
    Even Newt voiced his doubt;
    Paul, your vouchers aint worth diddly-squat.

  61. Granny Smith says:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To pray for the rhymes that he sot.
    It started some fights
    That lasted for nights.
    He thot, “O, what hath God rot?”

  62. Guy Peter Pietrobono says:

    Hi, Madeleine! Got your note about your suggested changes for my latest. I’m going to change one of my lines before the deadline. So please submit this one instead of my previous one. Here goes:

    A fellow was hatching a plot
    To extort, but he didn’t know squat….
    “Should I make ’em a deal,
    Or lie, cheat and steal?
    I guess I’ll just try the whole lot.”

    Thank you,
    Guy Peter Pietrobono

    (Note from Mad Kane: I deleted your previous version. Thanks!)

  63. Jess says:

    What a cute limerick!

  64. Patrice of the ManyCats says:

    Good one, Guy :)

    A woman was hatching a plot
    To use “rhyming” words she ought not;
    Gave it thought on her cot,
    Smiled, “I’ll give it a shot…
    [Though by Mad I’ve been caught quite a lot]!”

  65. madkane says:

    Thanks again everyone for your delightful limericks and kind words! This contest is officially over. And the winner is…

    I hope to see you at my new Limerick-Off which has just begun.