Famous Funny Poem

This well known Limerick is often misattributed to other famous poets such as Ogden Nash. Dixon Lanier Merritt (1879–1972) was an American poet, editor, historian and humorist

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My best childhood friend loved this poem! We were separated by four hours as we lived in different cities and had become married with children. Our visits existed by phone. At least once...

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Famous Poem

A Wonderful Bird Is The Pelican

By more Dixon Lanier Merritt

A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican,
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week
But I'm damned if I see how the helican!

Another version:

A funny old bird is a pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belican.
Food for a week
He can hold in his beak,
But I don't know how the helican.

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Teresa Salcedo by Teresa Salcedo
  • 1 year ago

My best childhood friend loved this poem! We were separated by four hours as we lived in different cities and had become married with children. Our visits existed by phone. At least once during our conversations, this poem would come up, and we'd laugh to tears! My friend passed away from cancer about five years ago, and this evening, I recited it to my adult son and thought about my friend. I will always think of her whenever I hear it!

  • Maureen Griffin by Maureen Griffin
  • 2 years ago

I can hear my Dad saying this to us. I have a pelican statue sitting in my living room, and I think of this poem and my wonderful dad every day. I miss him. He's been gone 36 years now, and it seems like yesterday.

  • Christy Dickerson by Christy Dickerson
  • 2 years ago

I can see my dad's face and hear him reciting this poem as soon as he saw a pelican...every time. Sparks joy in the midst of grief. I miss him so much. Making a memorial space with a pelican foundation outside and will be sure to tell his grandchildren of their Paw Paw and the pelican.

  • Jay Breeden by Jay Breeden
  • 2 years ago

I have very fond memories of my Grandfather reciting the first two lines of this poem to me as a young lad whenever we were at the seashore where there were always pelicans. I reckon he didn't want to recite the entire poem as it ends with helican...but it's nice to know...the rest of the story.

  • William Casson by William Casson
  • 2 years ago

This is hilarious. The play on words is so funny.

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