Haikus and limericks are both poems. However, they differ in terms of
length, rhyme scheme, and the presence of humor.
A limerick poem consists of five lines. It follows the rhyme scheme of AABBA.
This means that the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and
fourth lines rhyme. A limerick is usually comical. Some of the most famous
limericks are nursery rhymes.
Ding, Dong, Bell is one example of a limerick nursery rhyme:
Ding, dong, bell; Kitty’s in the well.
Who put her in? Little Tommy Green.
Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Trout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To drown poor Pussy Cat.
Who put her in? Little Tommy Green.
Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Trout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To drown poor Pussy Cat.
A haiku, on the other hand, consists of five lines. While it does not
rhyme, its lines do follow a specific syllable pattern. The first line always
has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has
five syllables. Haikus tend to be more serious than limericks. They are often
about nature, and they are known for being direct and to the point.
The following haiku is written by a famous poet named Basho
Matsuo:
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
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