There was an Old Man with a Beard is a limerick by Edward Lear. Edward Lear is famous for his limericks. A limerick is defined as a humorous poem which is usually just five lines long and follows AABBA rhyme pattern.
Limericks are popular among kids because of how silly the message is. It often portrays an exaggerated body part and a nonsense conclusion. Most limericks have no deeper meaning. It doesn’t have any moral lesson unlike a fable. It’s main purpose is to entertain and elicit laughter.
A common limerick format would start with “There once was a (someone) from (somewhere) …” or “There was a (someone) who (something) …”
Like the limerick “There was an Old Man with a Beard” it invites the reader to imagine an old man with a beard too big that birds made it into a nest. After reading the poem, you can’t help but laugh and imagine a silly looking old man.
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, “It is just as I feared!—
Two Owls and a Hen, four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard.”
Edward Lear was born on May 12, 1812. His birthdate, May 12, is celebrated as Limerick Day.
