Perceptive Limericks about the 5 Senses

Last month our friend Brian Christopher mooted an artistic collaboration. The Shut Up & Draw! challenge asked artists to make one Post-It note piece of art a day for five days. The theme was the five senses, and I wanted to participate, so I wrote some limericks.

Each day, a dozen or so highly talented artists, from San Luis Obispo and beyond, rose to the occasion with remarkable skill. Though their creativity was limited to the 3 x 3 inch square of a Post-It note, and 15 frantic minutes, the display of artistic ability was captivating.

From the beginning, I had a good feeling about the project. My wife and 7-year-old son immediately got on board with the idea. And my wife, always looking for opportunities to collaborate, decided to make her micro-paintings as companion pieces to my pithy limericks.

Here’s what I came up with.

     Sight
     Open your eyes to admire the art
     Each of us here will contribute their part
               But a clever disguise
               Can play tricks on your eyes
     If you really seek beauty then open your heart

     Hearing
     There once was a boy who could listen
     He could hear a sliced cantaloupe glisten
               And closing his eyes
               He can hear the sun rise
     By the chirping he knows that it’s risen

     Scent
     There’s an interesting power connected to smell
     And just how it functions I really can’t tell
               But some odors last
               And revisit the past
     ‘Cuz noses can do that like ringing a bell

     Taste
     Some limericks are simply a waste
     Like the ones about panties unlaced
               Although I’m no prude
               I hate to be rude
     So I’ll never use words in poor taste

     The Culmination of the Senses
     There’s no need to stare like I’ve got the disease
     And don’t hold your nose like I stink of old cheese
               We all need affection
               And you’re my selection
     So touch me again with your lips if you please

Limericks in collaboration

All in all, we had a great time with this little challenge. In fact, we’re already looking forward to the next one. Hoping, that is, that there will be a next one. I spend a lot of time writing limericks in my own little bubble, so it’s nice to get a chance to interact and collaborate. And it’s especially satisfying to see my words brought to life with the agile imagery of wife’s illustration.

Pursuant to that goal, my wife and I are currently working on a more extensive series of illustrated limericks and poetry, which we look forward to making available through the website here. At the same time, I’m compiling some greater collections of limericks and she’s adding some additional design elements in order to make these printed anthologies available through Amazon. Stay tuned for details!

Further Reading

If you enjoyed these limericks about the five senses, please let me know in the comments section. And consider sharing the post or subscribing to the blog. You might also want to check out some of these popular articles:

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• Limerick writing tips and tricks
• Serious Limericks: There once was an unsmiling rhymer