There once was a man from Pawtucket

Who kept all his cash in a bucket.

His daughter named Nan

Ran away with a man,

And as for the cash—Nantucket.

 

He followed the pair to Nantucket

To retrieve the cash in the bucket.

He said to the man:

"You can keep daughter Nan,"

But as for the cash—Pawtucket.

 

He took the cash to Manhasset

And transferred it all to a basket.

The man brought back Nan,

Gave her back to her dad,

As for the cash—the Manhasset.

 

The IRS learned of the transactions

And demanded a piece of the action.

When all was said and done

Good old Uncle Sam won

And he got the sole satisfaction.

 

Pa had hoarded his cash like a shrew

'Til it became six hundred and two.

A company named Boeing

Found the government this owing

And charged it that much for a screw.

 

The unions controlled Boeing's working

And declared that Boeing was shirking.

They struck for a raise

Which altered Pa's pay

Now he is the one who is smirking.

 

 

The first limerick appeared in a college newspaper some years ago.  Another college picked it up and published limerick number two as a sequel.  Limerick number three was published by a third college.  I have remembered these for many years, thought of them recently, and composed the remaining limericks on my way to Church Sunday.

 

25 August 1985