Playing with Words: Clerihews

Clerihews are fun to write. They are humorous poems about people  - famous people, people you know, or even fictional characters.

A clerihew has four lines.

The first and second lines rhyme with each other.

The first line names or identifies the person who is the subject of the clerihew.

The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other.

Syllable counts do not matter in clerihews.

A clerihew is funny. (Take note that I wrote "funny", not "mean". It is not a good idea to write clerihews that insult or bully others.  Be careful about posting your clerihews online.)

Here is my favorite clerihew written by G.K.  Chesterton about Cervantes, where he pokes gentle fun at the rivalry between Spain's and Italy's most famous writers:

"The people of Spain think Cervantes
Equal to half-a-dozen Dantes;
An opinion resented most bitterly
By the people of Italy."

Like I wrote above, clerihews can even be written about fictional characters, like this clerihew by Kenn Nesbitt:

"The enemy of Harry Potter
Was a scheming plotter.
I can’t tell you what he’s called; I’d be ashamed
To name “he who must not be named.”

Your turn now. Have fun!