Which came first – the town of Limerick in Ireland, or the five-line poem? According to history it seems that the town was established about 1,000 years before the origin of the naming of the poem was. And it seems that the origin of the naming of the poem is related to the mentioning of the town of Limerick in a song.
But nonetheless, when one visits Limerick, does one actually expect that they write a limerick while they’re there? I would suppose not, but that is what happened to me. No kidding.
During my travels to Limerick, I actually wrote a poem. Although it is technically not the true five-line limerick, it is close enough. Here is my journal entry about my couple of hours in Limerick, and the poem I wrote, which is a summary my travels of my first two months in Europe, and how I even got to Europe in the first place.
Sunday July 4, 2004 (Oh, it’s the Fourth of July today…)
I got up about 7:30 this morning after another good night’s sleep in the hostel in Wicklow. I must have been tired from my Wicklow walk yesterday. After getting ready, I hopped on a bus, my Irish mode of transportation, which was to take me to my next destination of Killarney, on the southwest part of Ireland.
The Tallest Church Spire in Ireland
At about noon, the bus pulled into the town of Limerick, where I had originally planned to change buses right away. But as we were approaching this bus station, I noticed a church with a very tall spire. I just had to go see it! So instead of taking the 12:30 bus to Killarney, I chose to take a 14:30 bus, giving me two hours in Limerick.
Stained Glass in St. John’s Cathedral
I went to this church, St. John’s Cathedral, and inside it was beautiful – lots of stained glass. Oh, how I have become so enthralled with stained glass in churches! I sat quietly for a few minutes, contemplating. I found out that this church has the tallest spire in Ireland. No wonder I noticed it from the bus.
I then did some other sight-seeing. I walked around the graveyard of another church, St. Mary’s Cathedral. I looked at some pretty old gravestones which had the Celtic cross, as I had seen previously in Ireland. You know, the cross with the circle ring intersecting.
I walked around King John’s Castle next, which was along a river. Here I was intrigued more by actually watching three people fishing. I always like to witness every-day life.
St. Mary’s Cathedral and Graveyard
But the funniest thing about my time today in Limerick was that on the bus just before I got to the town, I just happened to start to write a “limerick.” No kidding. And as I was walking around the town doing my sight-seeing, I continued to write my poem, even when I was contemplating in St. John’s Cathedral. No kidding.
I call it, “Living A Life Long Dream”.
There once was a girl from Seattle
Who needed to go and rattle
Her cage, so she could go travel
And see the world, and to her friends tattle.
So she quit her job, gave up her apt,
And put her car away.
She packed a bag, got on a plane,
And went on her merry way.
Off to London first, then on to Greece
To see the ancient sights.
And to hop around the islands,
With all of her might.
Then five days in Turkey;
A lifetime friend she made.
Who gave her a necklace,
The memory will never fade.
Off to Slovenia and Croatia,
With parks of waterfalls.
Experiencing, learning, growing,
And having a ball.
Italy was beautiful, with vineyards
In the rolling hills.
Exploring, wandering, playing,
Going wherever she wills.
Now she’s in Ireland, the town of Limerick,
Writing as she walks.
Looking at more churches and cathedrals,
Leaving her breathless, she can barely talk.
Who knows where she will travel to next.
That is left to be seen.
All she knows is that all this travel
Is living a life long dream.
Sweet (and poetic) Travels!