Bear Bouffant [Limerick]

There once was a quite sizable bear --
yet more imposing for its shaggy hair.
"If I took a shave,
I'd better fit my cave, 
but hunters would laugh, not beware."

Gaucho Limerick

There once was an Argentine gaucho
who loved to lie around on the couch. Oh!
When his wife would protest
it would disturb his rest.
"I'm goin'! Jeez, stop bein' such a grouch - Ho!"

Marquis de Sade Limerick

There once was a Marquis named de Sade
whose philosophy many found odd:
The pursuit of pleasure,
by any measure,
is to spoil by not sparing the rod!

Panglossian Limerick

From an 1803 edition of Candide
There was a philosopher named Pangloss
whose sole objective was to get across:
Ours is the best of worlds!
And yet, the crapper swirled
and nothing escaped but dregs and dross.

Patience: Casualty of Modernity [Limerick]

There was an old man, some called "ancient,"
who got riled everyone was so impatient.
"The world was much better
when we talked by letter,
and you only got instant replies if adjacent."

Macbeth Limerick

Macbeth and Banquo Meeting the Witches;
Théodore Chasséria (1855)
There was a great General named Macbeth.
All that kept him from kingship was a death,
but - as with a Pringle -
he couldn't do a single.
So, he showed seven more their last breaths.

Fell in a Well [Limerick]

There was a girl who fell in a well,
but the well had steps, so all was swell.
To not be a bore,
she jumped ten times more,
but back home had to explain her fishy smell.

Hypnotic Limerick

James Coates (1904)
There was an anesthetist / hypnotist
whose patients could never resist.
'Twas the even drone
of his flat monotone.
Even the surgeon fell asleep in his midst.

Hamlet Limerick

Hamlet Stands Over Polonius;
Eugène Delacroix (1855)
There once was a wavering Prince of Denmark
whose uncle replaced his dad as monarch.
The ghost of his dad
said, "Kill 'em, my lad!"
Too bad he took that stab in the dark.

Helen of Troy [Limerick]

Abduction of Helen; (mid-18th cent. Venice)
There was pretty lady named Helen
whose beauty had all the boys yellin'.
No arrows from Cupid;
her glance made 'em stupid.
But did her face split a thousand melons?