Limerick

A limerick is a type of short poem, often rude or funny, which follows a particular rhyming pattern. For instance, Julius Eaton's favorite limerick was:


 * There once was a painter named Seff
 * Who was color-blind, palsied and deaf
 * When he asked to be touted,
 * The critics all shouted:
 *  'This is Art—with a capital F.'



Note that the last words in the first, second and fifth lines rhyme, as do the words in the second and third lines.

History
Thousands of years ago, Q amused himself with the notion of making Tkon Empire citizens speak only in limericks, or perhaps Ionian pentameter or sign language. 

In 2257, Gilhooley played three-dimensional chess with James T. Kirk aboard the USS Farragut (NCC-1647) and told him some "off-color" limericks the day before an attack by a dikironium cloud creature. 

Nyota Uhura was skilled in composing limericks. After recovering from an attack by the space probe Nomad in 2267, however, Uhura wasn't sure if this was true or if Christine Chapel was just teasing her about them. (SS TOS (See No Evil))

Kirk relaxed in his quarters between missions in 2273 with some book-tapes, including one called "The Limerick". 

In 2364, Data quoted a limerick while under polywater intoxication. 

In 2376, Tom Paris thought his own limericks were amusing, but didn't believe they showed a creative skill like playing a musical instrument, singing or painting. 

In 2379, Commander Rolando Valentin was known to tell rude limericks about Starfleet service, patriotism and anatomy.