National Limerick Day was on 12th May, and Primrose Croft Care Home in Cambridge spent it full of laughter and fun.
As first, the people living at the home enjoyed listening to some of Edward Lear’s poetry from The Book of Nonsense. They laughed as the poems were read to them, and many agreed that their favourite was ‘There was an old man with a beard’.
Regional Lifestyle and Wellbeing Lead Pearl then asked everyone if they wanted to write their own limerick poems. At first many were dubious and convinced themselves that they would not be able to do it. But then Pearl explained that there are some simple rules associated with creating a limerick, and once you know what they are it is a lot easier.
As it was also Mental Health Awareness Week, they decided to theme their first Limerick around the week’s theme of being in nature. Once they were done writing it, Pearl read it out loud to everyone, and they were all very happy. It went:
There is a big old tree
And in it sits a bee
Looking down at all the flowers
Waiting patiently for the right hours
Until it is time for tea
After this, Edith said that she wanted to write one about birthdays, and then came up with the following:
There was an old man from Crew
Who says Happy Birthday to you
He gives him a clock
Which said tick tock
And now it is time for a brew
After this, everyone had inspiration for even more limericks, and so they all took it in turns writing and reading their own. Residents said that they had really enjoyed this activity and would have never thought of trying it had Pearl not suggested it!