Poetry Month Letters and Limericks

April is National Poetry Month. And May celebrates the birthday of a famous limerick writer, Edward Lear. We asked the WORLDteen audience to try spinning out a few limericks, and to share their favorite poems. Here's what you sent us:

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, 

I am writing to you today to share my favorite poem! It is called, "Charge of the Light Brigade" by Lord Tennyson Alfred. 

Becoming my favorite poem upon reading it, Charge of the Light Brigade has a funny tone when you know the context while still being a wonderfully captivating poem. It tells the story of the British Cavalry charging the Russians during the Crimean war. It tells how just one misunderstood order cost the lives of countless British soldiers. However, the reason I like this poem so much is not because it is sad, but because it turns an epic fail into something almost heroic. It is important to find the joy in life and this poem takes something that was sad, and turns it into an awesome tale about a noble group of soldiers. The Charge of the Light Brigade brings joy to a gruesome war and makes it famous. I have heard people recite this poem on stage before, and every time, they don't say it with a tone of loss, they say it with power, with glory. This poem offers a patriotic sense of victory to its reader. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this wonderful and powerful poem. The Charge of the Light Brigade is one of the best poems I have ever read in my life. 

Thank you, 

God bless, 

~ Emma V.



Original Limericks and Poems



Once there was a red-bellied chaffinch 

His stature was only a half inch. 

He hopped on the ground 

Till the wind blew him round 

Then he was a red-bellied fast finch.

— Ruth S.

Once there was a young sneaky bumblebee 

He made his home in a tumbleweed.

He buzzed and he bumbled

Till the tumbleweed tumbled

And then he was made a humble bee. 

— Ruth S.

Thanks, Ruth S.! 

There once was a young fashion girl,

Who showed off her clothes with a twirl.

Her pants caught on the tip, 

Of a nail and did rip,

And downward her pants did unfurl.

— Brigette B. 

(Oh no, Brigette!)

 

There once was a hamster named Harry,

Who feasted upon cakes with cherries.

He ate lamb chops galore,

Also steaks and much more,

Till he was too heavy to carry.

— Brigette B. 

Thanks, Brigette B.!

There once was a man whose tie

Was stuffed with pumpkin pie—

So at his meeting,

He smelled like he was eating,

And everyone kept wondering why.

—Olivia S., age 12

Thanks, Olivia S.! 

The Skinny Man from Lyre
 

There once was a skinny man from Lyre

Who never ate and would easily tire.

Then one day, he fell through a crack 

And he did not come back.

Or so they tell the children in Gyre.                            

—Daila D.

 Thanks, Daila D.! 

The Freighter Crane

There once was an old freighter crane

Who thought he was a passenger plane.

He leaped for his first flight,

But fell in a great fright!

And now he walks on a cane.

—Esteban D.

 Thanks, Esteban D.!