A clerihew poem is one of the funniest and easiest poems kids can write. It is short, silly, and usually about a person. That person can be famous, real, imaginary, or even someone from school.
The best part is that a clerihew poem does not need to sound serious. In fact, it should feel playful. Kids can use funny rhymes, surprising ideas, and simple words to create a poem that makes people smile.
A clerihew poem is a great way to help children enjoy poetry without feeling pressure. It teaches rhyme, rhythm, creativity, and wordplay in a simple way.
What is a Clerihew Poem?
A clerihew poem is a short, funny poem about a person. It has four lines. The first line usually names the person the poem is about. The poem then says something silly, strange, or unexpected about that person.
A clerihew poem follows a simple rhyme pattern:
AABB
That means the first two lines rhyme with each other, and the last two lines rhyme with each other.
Here is a simple example:
Mary Brown
Wore a very shiny crown.
She danced around the room all day,
Then gave her royal hat away.
This poem is short, funny, and easy to understand. That is exactly what makes a clerihew poem perfect for kids.
What to Include in a Clerihew Poem for Kids
A Person as the Main Character
A clerihew poem should focus on one person. This person can be a teacher, friend, family member, historical figure, cartoon character, or made-up person.
The name often appears in the first line. This helps the reader know who the poem is about right away.
For example:
Tommy Lee
Climbed up the tallest tree.
The name starts the poem and gives kids a clear subject to write about.
Four Short Lines
A clerihew poem always has four lines. This makes it less scary for young writers. They do not need to write a long poem. They only need four fun lines.
Each line can be short and simple. Kids should focus more on the joke or silly idea than on making the poem perfect.
A Funny or Silly Idea
The heart of a clerihew poem is humor. The poem should say something unexpected about the person.
Maybe the person eats pancakes in space. Maybe a teacher forgets how to spell. Maybe a king loses his crown in a pond.
The sillier the idea, the better the poem often becomes.
A Simple Rhyme Pattern
A clerihew poem uses an AABB rhyme pattern. This means:
- Line 1 rhymes with line 2
- Line 3 rhymes with line 4
For example:
Miss Jane
Forgot her umbrella in the rain.
She used a pancake as a hat,
Then gave it to a hungry cat.
“Jane” rhymes with “rain.”
“Hat” rhymes with “cat.”
This simple rhyme pattern helps kids understand how the poem works.
Playful Language
Kids should use fun words in a clerihew poem. Words like wobbly, giggly, squishy, tiny, giant, bouncy, and sneaky can make the poem more exciting.
Playful language helps the poem feel light and funny. It also encourages children to enjoy the sound of words.
How to Write a Clerihew Poem for Kids
#1. Choose a Person to Write About
First, pick a person. This person will be the star of the poem.
Kids can choose someone they know, such as a friend, parent, teacher, or sibling. They can also choose a famous person, a character from a book, or a made-up person.
The person’s name should be easy to rhyme with if possible. Names like Sam, Jane, Sue, Ben, or Mike are simple choices for beginners.
For example:
- Sam
- Molly
- Mr. Green
- Queen Kate
- Doctor Drew
Once the child chooses a person, the poem has a clear starting point.
#2. Write the First Line with the Person’s Name
Next, write the first line. This line usually includes the person’s name.
The first line can be very short. It does not need to explain anything yet.
For example:
Mr. Blue
or
Sally Bright
or
Captain Jack
This line introduces the character. It also gives the child a word to rhyme with in the second line.
#3. Create a Funny Second Line That Rhymes
Now write the second line. This line should rhyme with the first line.
If the first line is “Mr. Blue,” the second line might end with “shoe,” “glue,” “flew,” or “too.”
For example:
Mr. Blue
Lost his lunch inside his shoe.
This line gives the poem a funny twist. It also completes the first rhyme pair.
Kids should not worry if the idea sounds silly. A silly idea is exactly what a clerihew poem needs.
#4. Add a Surprising Third Line
The third line should continue the funny story. It does not have to rhyme with the first two lines. Instead, it starts a new rhyme pair.
For example:
He tried to eat a piece of cake,
This line gives the poem movement. It tells the reader what happened next.
Children can ask themselves:
- What did the person do?
- What went wrong?
- What strange thing happened?
- What would make this funnier?
These questions help kids create a playful third line.
#5. Finish with a Rhyming Fourth Line
The fourth line should rhyme with the third line. It should also finish the joke or silly story.
For example:
He tried to eat a piece of cake,
But bit a rubber garden rake.
Now the poem feels complete. The rhyme works, and the ending is funny.
Here is the full clerihew:
Mr. Blue
Lost his lunch inside his shoe.
He tried to eat a piece of cake,
But bit a rubber garden rake.
The poem is short, simple, and silly. That is the goal.
#6. Read the Poem Out Loud
After writing the poem, kids should read it out loud. This helps them hear the rhymes and notice any awkward lines.
If a line sounds too long, they can shorten it. If a rhyme sounds strange, they can try another word.
Reading aloud also makes the poem more fun. Poetry is meant to be heard, not just seen on a page.
#7. Make the Poem Funnier
Finally, kids can improve the poem by adding more humor. They can choose funnier words, stranger actions, or a more surprising ending.
For example, instead of writing:
Ben ate a snack.
They could write:
Ben ate a sock from a paper sack.
The second version is much funnier because it is unexpected.
Kids can also add exaggeration. A person can sneeze so hard they fly to the moon. A teacher can write math problems on a balloon. A dog can become mayor for a day.
The more playful the idea, the better the clerihew poem becomes.
Sample Clerihew Poems for Kids
The Curious Sam
Sam Green
Loved jellybeans with whipped cream.
He wore pajamas to the zoo,
And taught a dancing kangaroo.
Silly Miss Kate
Miss Kate
Balanced ten pancakes on a skate.
She spun around with a happy grin,
Then dropped them all in a trash can bin.
Captain Jack’s Adventure
Captain Jack
Carried a duck in his backpack.
He sailed across a giant lake,
Then shared his lunch with a rattlesnake.
Funny Molly
Molly Bright
Tried to fly a kite at night.
It got tangled in a tall oak tree,
And startled a very sleepy bee.
Doctor Drew
Doctor Drew
Painted his bicycle bright blue.
He raced it down a muddy track,
Then rode home on a friendly yak.
Closing Thoughts
A clerihew poem is a wonderful poetry form for kids because it is short, funny, and easy to write. Children only need four lines, one person, two rhyming pairs, and a silly idea.
Because the structure is simple, kids can focus on creativity. They can play with words, invent funny situations, and enjoy the process of writing poetry.
Most importantly, a clerihew poem shows children that poetry does not always have to be serious or difficult. Sometimes, a poem can simply make people laugh.