2019 News Limericks

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.

I’m Martha Barnette.

And I’m Grant Barrett, and we’re joined by our quiz guy, John Chaneski.

Hi, John.

Hi, Grant. Hi, Martha.

It’s so good to hear your voices again.

It’s time to look at notable news stories from the past year through the lens of limericks.

That’s right, as we do.

I’ll read you a limerick about something that happened in 2019, and you’ll finish it for me.

Now, you might need to supply one word, a phrase, a name, or something else.

So you’ll figure it out.

Are you ready?

Sure.

Good.

Here we go.

In China, the scientists croon a triumphant space-faring tune.

They’re fans of Pink Floyd, or So I Have Hoyed.

They landed a craft on the moon.

Specifically where on the moon?

Dark side of the moon.

On the dark side of the moon, yes.

Correct.

Nicely done.

Here’s the next one.

The bells in the tower are calm, but the workers proceed with aplomb.

Months after the fire, the scaffold climbs higher, foretelling a fresh Notre Dame.

Notre Dame, oui, oui, well done.

This region of space-time’s a tease.

You can even say please on your knees.

It won’t sit for a pick, but Caltech found the trick to convince a black hole to say cheese.

Cheese.

Click.

Well done.

Nice picture.

Here’s another one.

A Florida reptile locator said to his friends, see you later.

I’m off to Chicago.

Take care of my doggo.

Humboldt Park is the home of a…

Gator.

Gator.

Yes, exactly.

I was looking for something more complicated than that.

No, that’s all it was.

Chance the Snapper was the name that the Chicago community bestowed upon this four-foot-long gator that was in Humboldt Park.

Here’s another one.

I’m so sure that you’ll find this nifty, especially if you are thrifty.

A senior discount for a decent amount.

If you were born at Woodstock, now you’re…

50.

50, yes.

You don’t usually get a senior discount of 50, but around 55 or so.

But yeah, Woodstock, if you were born there, you are now 50.

Here’s another one.

Tyrion, Daenerys, and Bronn, Arya, Sansa, and Jon, Snow said goodbye.

The last crow left the sky.

Now that winter has both…

Come and gone.

Come and gone, yes.

Goodbye to Game of Thrones.

Some parents had sneaky ambitions to increase their children’s positions,

But they all got caught, and that’s how we got a scandal re…

College admissions.

College admissions, yes.

Shame, shame.

The song Old Town Road was a whopper, a country music billboard chart topper.

Lil Nas X sang the hit, Cash the Checks, and saved some for Miley Cyrus’s…

Papa.

Papa, that’s right.

That’s right.

Billy Ray Cyrus was in on that old town road.

Here’s the last one.

Here we go.

An Aussie named Wally bred pets, but it’s 2019.

Now he frets.

That one dog is mean.

It’s a real Frankenstein.

Labradoodles are the ones I…

Regret.

Regrets, yes.

He expressed his regret at breeding the Labradoodle.

Thanks very much.

Those are my limericks for 2019.

Thanks, John.

Really appreciate it.

Take care, John.

Bye.

We had fun talking to John, and we’d love to talk with you.

So give us a call, 877-929-9673,

Or send your questions and stories about language to words@waywordradio.org.