The Tumultuous Tom-tommy Tortoise

The Tumultuous Tom-tommy Tortoise,
who beat a Drum all day long in the
middle of the wilderness.

Edward Lear

Edward Lear was an English artist, musician, author, and poet famous for his literary nonsense and limericks. Born on May 12, 1812, in Holloway, England, Lear created a genre of literary nonsense that influenced many later English writers. He is best known for his work 'A Book of Nonsense' and 'The Owl and the Pussycat.' His whimsical style and imaginative use of language captivated both children and adults alike. Lear passed away on January 29, 1888.

Edward Lear

The Courtship Of The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

Edward Lear, Simple Poetry

Alphabet, No. 5.

Edward Lear, Simple Poetry

Book Of Nonsense Limerick 22.

Edward Lear, Simple Poetry

More Nonsense Limerick 87

Edward Lear, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

The Dolomphious Duck,

The Dolomphious Duck,
who caught Spotted Frogs for her dinner
with a Runcible Spoon.

Edward Lear

The Enthusiastic Elephant,

The Enthusiastic Elephant,
who ferried himself across the water with the
Kitchen Poker and a New pair of Ear-rings.

Edward Lear

Calico Pie.



    I.

Calico pie,
The little birds fly
Down to the calico-tree:
Their wings were blue,
And they sang "Tilly-loo!"
Till away they flew;
And they never came back to me!
They never came back,
They never came back,
They never came back to me!


    II.

Calico jam,
The little Fish swam
Over the Syllabub Sea.
He took off his hat
To the Sole and the Sprat,
And the Willeby-wat:
But he never came back to me;
He never came back,
He never came back,
He never came back to me.




    III.

Calico ban,
The little Mice ran
To be ready in time for tea;
Flippity flup,
They drank it al...

Edward Lear

The Zigzag Zealous Zebra

The Zigzag Zealous Zebra,
who carried five Monkeys on his back all
the way to Jellibolee.

Edward Lear

Thomas The Pretender

Tommy's alluz playin' jokes,
An' actin' up, an' foolin' folks;
    An' wunst one time he creep
In Pa's big chair, he did, one night,
An' squint an' shut his eyes bofe tight,
    An' say, "Now I 'm asleep."
An' nen we knowed, an' Ma know' too,
He ain't asleep no more 'n you!



An' wunst he clumbed on our back'fence
An' flop his arms an' nen commence
    To crow, like he's a hen;
But when he failed off, like he done,
He didn't fool us childern none,
    Ner didn't crow again.
An' our Hired Man, as he come by,
Says, "Tom can't crow, but he kin cry."

James Whitcomb Riley

The Queer Querulous Quail

The Queer Querulous Quail,
who smoked a Pipe of tobacco on the top of
a Tin Tea-kettle.

Edward Lear