So far, out of 31 limericks submitted, only three have passed all the technical requirements.
A few had the syllable count off, a few didn't follow the AABBA rhyme scheme or didn't have perfect rhyme, a few were not dated, and one had the poet's name on the poem. A couple weren't clean. Many had multiple issues.
Check your syllable count at http://howmanysyllables.com/PoemWorkshop/index .
Of the others that didn't pass, by far the main issue is the meter.
Please review your poem again and consider doing a scansion to check the meter. Look at the contest rules to make sure you comply with all of them. Otherwise, you will not be placed.
See my previous blog about how to do a scansion. http://https://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry_blogs/blog_detail.aspx?PoetID=31317&BlogID=24798
On the meter, the poem must follow one of several specific anapest patterns as explained in the rules:
The meter must show the following variable syllable stress pattern:
(da) da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (da) (da)
(da) da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (da) (da)
(da) da DUM da da DUM (da)
(da) da DUM da da DUM (da)
(da) da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (da) (da)
Meaning that you may leave off any of the optional syllables in parentheses.
I will specify the permissible metric patterns below for clarity.
For lines 1, 2 and 5:
8 syllables:
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
I had one 8 syllable limerick that used da da DUM da da DUM da da. That is not correct.
9 syllables:
da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
or
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM da
10 syllables:
da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM da
or
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM da da
11 syllables:
da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM da da
For lines 3 and 4:
5 syllables:
da DUM da da DUM
6 syllables:
da da DUM da da DUM
or
da DUM da da DUM da
7 syllables:
da da DUM da da DUM da
BTW, it was not listed as a requirement, but ideally, the meter in lines 3 and 4 should start with the same starting metric pattern as 1, 2, and 5.
The other trap a poet falls into is syncopation, i.e. forcing the pronounciation of the words into the correct metric pattern even though they would not normally be pronounced that way naturally. It's an easy trap to fall into, which is why a scansion is important.
There was one poem that was very close that I wanted to mention so it can be corrected:
There once was a housewife named Claire
Who shook her dust mop in the air
The dust whirled like stars
The earth, moon and mars...
Who’s shaking a dust mop up there?
There ONCE was a HOUSE-wife named CLAIRE - OK
Who SHOOK her DUST mop in the AIR - meter doesn't work. See line 5.
The DUST whirled like STARS - OK
The EARTH, moon and MARS. - OK (planets should be capitalized, BTW)
Who’s SHAK-ing a DUST mop up THERE? - OK
The stressed syllables in "dust mop" have to be consistent. I think "dust" is the stressed syllable, but either way, it has to be stressed consistently. You cannot pronounce it "dust MOP" in line 2 and "DUST mop" in line 5 to make it fit the pattern artificially. That is syncopation.
Humor:
None of the limericks came even close to making me laugh. A faint smile at the best.
If you want the limerick to be funny, it should employ traditional humorous devices.
The most common device is what the Germans call Schadenfreude, happiness at the misfortune of others. It's the president's pratfall, the pompous church lady with the toilet paper stuck to her shoe, etc.
Another device, a bit kinder, is incongruity. That's the surprise twist, the punchline at the end that often makes a joke funny.
Another common device is manipulation of the language, using puns and tortured rhyme, dialect or clever double entendres.
The really funny limericks will use several humorous devices.
You can get ideas from jokes. The idea is to discover what the essence of the joke is and use that , not just reproduce the joke. You have only five lines. The first two are to set up the premise. The second two can either extend the premise or turn it. The last line should be the punch line, ideally a surprise twist.
I will check all the poems again before final placement.
Cheers,
Roy