January/February 2024 Limerick Laughs Winner and Runners-up

Congratulations to Daniel Galef of Cincinnati, Ohio, who won $25 for his limerick describing Stevan Dohanos’s cover illustration from our November 14, 1953, issue.

Why does Clay dream of serving his nation,
Dashing into a huge conflagration?
It’s to save lives, of course,
But another strong source
Is he desperately wants a Dalmatian.

If you’d like to enter the Limerick Laughs Contest for our upcoming issue, submit your limerick via our online entry form.

Here are some more great limerick entries from this contest, in no particular order:

It’s nice when adults can conspire
To fulfill a boy’s fondest desire.
The wheel’s in his grip.
He’s ready to rip.
Now he just needs to know, “Where’s the fire?”
—Jim Johnston, Poland Ohio

At the station, he plays with the wheel.
It’s a job with a lot of appeal.
But he needs to be older
And stronger and bolder
To report for his duty for real.
—Ryan Tilley, Longwood, Florida

“CLANG! CLANG!” cried a boy in Hoboken.
“You’re hired,” said the Chief, “You’re well spoken.
You can sit there all day
Clearing folks from the way —
’Cause the bell on the firetruck’s broken.”
—Bob Turvey, Stoke Bishop, England

Precocious and confident Scott
Is eager and easily taught.
He’s rarin’ to go
But still needs to grow,
For reaching the gears, he cannot.
—Helen Ksypka, Eliot, Maine

In comics, the heroes have pluck.
They’ve got all the brains, brawn, and luck.
I’m thinking I may
Be a hero someday.
I’ll be the one driving this truck.
—Todd Kiefer, Ormond Beach, Florida

“I have never, until this fine morn,
Been so proud, since the day you were born.”
Dad’s spirit was high,
But it leapt to the sky
When his son pounded on the air horn.
—Scott Talbot Evans, Rochester, New York

“You think I’m too young, I suppose.”
But I’ve got a helmet and hose.
Now, all I desire
Is the call: FIRE! FIRE!
And an engine that actually goes!”
—Stuart Ritchings, England

Your driving technique’s unsurpassed,
But we think that you’re driving too fast.
There’s no need to hurry.
You don’t have to worry —
Your make-believe fire will last.
—Rudy Landesman, New York City, New York

By recruiting them when they are young,
We can weed out the too highly strung.
Billy, here, is aged three –
He’s our youngest trainee –
But he’s already reached the fourth rung.
—Anthony Holmes, Launceston, Cornwall

In the mind of the brave Billy Beddle,
His heroics would earn him a medal!
To the rescue of dames
He would dash through the flames
If his sneakers could reach that darn pedal!
—Gennadiy Gurariy, Athens, Ohio