Dylan Thomas

Limerick

Limerick - form Summary

Ribald Limerick Compresses Theology

This five-line limerick uses the form’s short, sing-song rhythm and tight rhyme to deliver a bawdy, irreverent retelling of Christian origin: a crude, comic account of God impregnating a virgin, producing Christ, and his crucifixion. The compressed, jokey tone forces a collision between sacred subject matter and low humor, making the poem a pointed, subversive miniature rather than a solemn theological statement.

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There was an old bugger called God, who got a young virgin in pod. This disgraceful behaviour begot Christ our Saviour, who was nailed to a cross, poor old sod.

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