More Metaphysical Limericks
Seven Limericks about cosmology and the meaning of life
Historically, limericks have aimed to titillate, stimulate and celebrate man’s lowest nature. When I say man, I mean humanity in general. But of course, the limerick has a distinct association with tasteless misogyny and male-oriented lechery.
For the past several years, I have undertaken a project to free the innocent limerick from its off-color confinement and raise the five-line rhyme to a higher status. To give the catchy ditty a more a respectable position in the literary ranks, I have penned a collection of several hundred metaphysical limericks.
In that spirit, I’m pleased to present the following seven limericks about the origins of the universe and life’s ultimate purpose.
Big Bang
Concerning the question of what happened first
The popular theory might not be the worst
Every planet and sun
In the cosmos were one
But what caused the singular bubble to burst?
The Ride of Your Life
You exit this world as you enter: alone
Charging ahead on a path of your own
Single but bound
To the world all around
A party of one on a little blue stone
Transmigration of Souls
There’s a comforting concept of metempsychosis
The spirit moves on while the flesh decomposes
But the birth rate’s exceeded
So new souls are needed
And this is the number one problem it poses
Going for the One
Straighten your mizzen and steady your oar
Set sail for the hub of your centermost core
Arrive at the middle
Unravel the riddle
Return to the One and debark on the shore
Beginnings
Stand by the river, examine her course
Moving with steady unstoppable force
As the cycle goes round
The first drop can’t be found
And still we expect to uncover the source
Cosmic Connections
In heaven our spirits connect and converge
On earth we express an analogous urge
Our souls understand it
Our bodies demand it
Separate but equally yearning to merge
Pilgrim’s Process
Searching for God I took leave like a pilgrim
Asked in the churches and heard that they’d killed Him
Consulted the sages
And wisdom of ages
And finally arrived at the laughter of children
Fred Hornaday writes on all subjects, from alternative education to Canadian immigration, and waxes poetic at the King of Limericks.
