Edward Lear - Five Nonsense Limericks

The following nonsense/absurd limericks come from the great Edward Lear and his book: The Book of Nonsense.

Born in 1812, Lear was ahead of his time, seeing the excellent value (or non value) of nonsense and absurdity well before our 'postmodern' period. An illustrator, artist, musician, author, and poet, Lear loved to create. He is now most well known for his nonsense poems and limericks, including, The Owl and the Pussy-Cat.

There was an Old Lady of Prague,
Whose language was horribly vague;
⁠When they said, "Are these caps?"
⁠She answered, "Perhaps!"
That oracular Lady of Prague.

From The Book of Nonsense (1887) 
Edward Lear
There was an Old Lady of Prague

London: F. Warne & Co., page 100

There was an Old Man in a tree,
Who was horribly bored by a bee;
⁠When they said, "Does it buzz?"
⁠He replied, "Yes, it does!
It's a regular brute of a bee!"

From The Book of Nonsense  (1887) 
Edward Lear
There was an Old Man in a tree

London: F. Warne & Co., page 10

There was an Old Person of Hurst,
Who drank when he was not athirst;
⁠When they said, "You'll grow fatter!
⁠He answered, "What matter?"
That globular Person of Hurst.

From The Book of Nonsense  (1887) 
Edward Lear
There was an Old Person of Hurst

London: F. Warne & Co., page 20

There was a Young Lady of Clare,
Who was sadly pursued by a bear;
⁠When she found she was tired,
⁠She abruptly expired,
That unfortunate Lady of Clare.

From The Book of Nonsense  (1887) 
Edward Lear
There was a Young Lady of Clare

London: F. Warne & Co., page 103

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long;
⁠But they called out, "Oh, law!
⁠You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.

From The Book of Nonsense  (1887) 
Edward Lear
There was an Old Man with a gong

London: F. Warne & Co., page 8