13 Tombstone Almost Limericks
Aug 7th, 2025 by Rusty

Exactly 19 years ago, in August of 2006, or family writing group held Round 6.  For this one I decided to submit a "suite of poems" that weren't quite limericks - but they almost were.  For several years I had amused my family by creating "almost limericks" that humorously detailed how some poor creature had died.  Yes, they are silly, but I still find humor and irony in not only how the creatures met their end, but also how the last line is absolutely out of place.  I think they are funny, but your mileage may vary.


13 Tombstone Almost Limericks
by Rusty Keele

 

Greg the Spider

Here lies Greg the hairy, scary spider,

Who saw Mrs. Muffet and sat down beside her,

He tried to make a “move,”

But got squished into a groove,

Because he accidentally sat by her husband!

 

Ed the Donkey

Here lies Ed the donkey,

Who was attacked by a crazy monkey,

The monkey grabbed Ed's ear,

And pulled it around Ed's rear,

And Ed choked on his oats!

 

Ralph the Goat

Here lies Ralph the goat,

Who loved to ride in motor boats,

But he never did learn,

To keep off the stern,

And the prop ran over his face!

 

Guido the Mosquito

Here lies the remains of Guido,

Who was once a blood-sucking mosquito,

After getting out of the slammer,

He tried to bite the head of a hammer,

And now he decorates a nail!       

 

Ernest the Hamster

Here lies Ernest the hamster,

Who was known as a very bad prankster,

While putting the final touches,

On ruining someone's crutches,

Ernest slipped and hit his head on a rock!

 

Maxine the Guinea Pig

Here lies Maxine the guinea pig,

Who is buried with an artificial wig,

She used to have hair – all fluffy and white,

Now her whole body is black as the night,

Because her curling iron was struck by lightning!

 

Jerry the Beetle

Here lies a beetle named Jerry,

Who was really ugly, and very scary,

For safety he was trying to swim,

But was suddenly done in,

When someone flushed the toilet!

 

Brad the Cat

Here lies a cat name Brad,

Nine lives he supposedly had,

But all nine at once were shot,

When he dove into an iron pot,

Which was really an industrial strength blender!

 

Three Wild Mice

Here lies Etzel, Gretsel and Pride,

Three mice who walked the wild side,

They were trained to shoot with guns,

And caused all creatures to flee and run,

When all three simultaneously fell in love!

 

Simon the Pig

Here lies a pig named Simon,

Who ran into a pie man,

While going to the fair,

He stole the pie man's wares,

But pie man was selling cyanide!

 

Peter the Weasel

Here lies Peter Peter a pumpkin eater,

Who saw a girl and went to meet her,

Upon her cheek he blew a kiss,

And said “Hello my lovely miss,”

And was given life in prison for sexual harassment!

 

Gopher Mayfield

Here lies gopher Mayfield,

Who was running through a hayfield,

Followed closely by a blood hound,

He stumbled and fell to the ground,

And the tractor ran over them both!

 

Clive the Cheetah

Here lies Clive Olsen Winchester number four,

An aging African cheetah who swallowed a condor,

But shortly after he ate that bird,

That mean old fowl dumped a big turd,

And Clive Olsen Winchester IV died unceremoniously from food poisoning!

 

These poems copyright © 2006 Rusty Keele.  All rights reserved.