A limerick is a form of verse that appeared in England in the early years of the 18th century). It is a traditional humorous drinking song often with obscene verses). The limerick consists of five lines, with a rhyme scheme of AABBA. The dominant meter is anapestic, with two metrical feet in the third and fourth lines and three feet in the others. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other, while the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. Limericks are often nonsensical and frequently ribald. Edward Lear, who composed and illustrated those in his Book of Nonsense (1846), claimed to have gotten the idea from a nursery rhyme beginning “There was an old man of Tobago”. Limericks are often used for humorous purposes and can be a fun way to express creativity.