WednesdayMay 20, 2026
Quotes: 53419 Authors: 9969
Edward Lear (12 May 1812 - 29 January 1888) was an English artist, illustrator and writer known for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form which he popularised.
The Dong! - the Dong! The Dong with the Luminous Nose!
How pleasant to know Mr. Lear! Who has written such volumes of stuff! Some think him ill-tempered and queer, But a few think him pleasant enough.
When awful darkness and silence reign Over the great Gromboolian plain, Through the long, long wintry nights;
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live: Their heads are green and their hands are blue And they went to sea in a sieve.
There was an old person from Ware, Who rode on the back of a bear: When they asked,—'Does it trot?'— He said 'Certainly not! He’s a Moppsikon Floppsikon bear.'
There was an Old Man with a beard, Who said, 'It is just as I feared!— Two Owls and a Hen, Four Larks and a Wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!'
‘How pleasant to know Mr. Lear! Who has written such volumes of stuff!’ Some think him ill-tempered and queer, But a few think him pleasant enough.
There once was an old person of Dean, Who dined on one pea and one bean; For he said, 'More than that, Would make me too fat,' That cautious old person of Dean.
There once was an old man of Thermopylae, Who never did anything properly; But they said, ‘If you choose To boil eggs in your shoes, You shall never remain in Thermopylae.’
And if you voz to see my roziz As is a boon to all men's noziz, – You'd fall upon your back and scream – 'Lawk! O criky! it's a dream!'
In the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. Two old chairs and half a candle, One old jug without a handle— These were all the worldly goods.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat. They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the Stars above And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What abeautiful Pussy you are Â… You are Â… What a beautiful Pussy you are.
It's a fact the whole world knows, That Pobbles are happier without their toes.
They went to sea in a sieve, they did; In a sieve they went to sea; In spite of all their friends could say.
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