What is a clerihew?

If you're looking for a different form of poetry to shake things up a bit, then a clerihew might just be what you're looking for! Invented by the British humorist E. Clerihew Bentley in 1890, a clerihew is a four-line humorous poem that often pokes fun at famous people, historical figures, or fictional characters.

The poem follows a strict AABB rhyme scheme, and the first line must contain the name of the individual being parodied. The last line often contains a humorous punchline or twist on the subject, which makes it a fun and lighthearted form of poetry to experiment with.

Here's an example of a clerihew from Bentley himself, poking fun at the scientist Sir Humphrey Davy:

Sir Humphry Davy
Abominated gravy.
He lived in the odium
Of having discovered sodium.

It's important to note that a clerihew isn't meant to be taken too seriously. It's all about having fun with language and poking gentle fun at notable people or characters. So let your creative juices flow, and see what sorts of silly clerihews you can come up with!