Clerihew thread

[Politruk]

Clerihew:

A clerihew (/ˈklɛrɪhjuː/) is a whimsical, four-line biographical poem of a type invented by Edmund Clerihew Bentley. The first line is the name of the poem's subject, usually a famous person, and the remainder puts the subject in an absurd light or reveals something unknown or spurious about the subject. The rhyme scheme is AABB, and the rhymes are often forced. The line length and metre are irregular. Bentley invented the clerihew in school and then popularized it in books. One of his best known is this (1905):

Sir Christopher Wren
Said, "I am going to dine with some men.
If anyone calls
Say I am designing St Paul's."[1]

For instance:

Captain James Tiberius Kirk
Is a piece of work
When no hot humanoid greenskinned alien babes are in range of the transporter
He'll do a horta!

 

[Angeline]

Thought you might enjoy seeing one of the clerihew threads we've enjoyed here on the forum. This one has some excellent examples in it.

Clerihew Crazy

Also FYI we love traditional poetry forms here. If you check the sticky "Thread of Forms" you'll see an extensive list of forms, along with explanations, examples and links.

 

[Angeline]

A few I wrote for the King's coronation~

Coronation Clerihews

Good King Charles Three
Finally made it, see
For now he heads "The Firm"
But probably not long term

*****

Camilla, Chaz's wife,
Has prevailed over strife
And she is now a queen
Which feels a bit obscene

*****

Prince William's tall and trim
His subjects wait for him
His eyes shine, his smile fair
He has everything but hair

*****

Prince Harry is an heir
Though sadly just the spare
He fled his own country
But hey at least he's free

*****

*Dear British friends do please
Accept apologies
For poems so short of zing
And may God save the King