How does the contest work?

It's easy. Just write an awesome limerick and upload it on the "Submission" page.
Your limerick can be suggestive, but no obscenities.
Users will then vote for their favorite limerick. The Top 5 limericks with the most votes will move onto the finals.
The top 5 finalists will read their limerick before a panel of judges
– and eager audience – on St. Patrick’s Day in Sarasota at The Shamrock Pub St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

Limerick requirements:

Limericks entered in this contest must follow traditional form. Five lines with anapestic or amphibrachic meter with a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA) and syllable count (9-9-6-6-9).

The typical rhythm of a limerick is like this:
bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH  (9 syllables)
bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH  (9 syllables)
bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH  (6 syllables)
bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH  (6 syllables)
bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH  (9 syllables)

Please note that lines 1, 2 & 5 must rhyme and must have the same syllable count (each line must be 9 syllables). Lines 3 & 4 must rhyme and have the same syllable count (each line must be 6 syllables).

Example:

In the future, the worst kind of crime,
Will be working the streets as a mime,
If you paint your face white,
They'll arrest you on sight,
An example of justice sublime

Limericks must follow these guidelines:
• Limericks must be five (5) lines
• Lines 1, 2, and 5 must have the same syllable count and must rhyme
• Lines 3 & 4 must have the same syllable count and must rhyme
• The syllable count must be 9, 9, 6, 6, 9

You can check the syllable count of your limerick here: http://www.howmanysyllables.com/Syllable_Counter/

If your limerick does not follow the guidelines it will be rejected.

Timeline

• Submissions will be accepted from Thursday, February 19 through Wednesday, March 4 at 11:59 p.m.
• Voting begins on Thursday, March 5 and goes through March 12 at noon.
The Top 5 will be determined from this round.
• The Top 5 limericks must be recited before a panel of judges on March 17 in Sarasota
at the Shamrock Pub’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

Prizes!

Grand Prize: $700!
2nd Place: Four (4) tickets to the Asolo Rep's "Luck Be A Lady" on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
3rd Place: Four (4) admission tickets to Mote Marine (good thru May 1, 2015).

A few rules.

• Only one limerick per person.
• While suggestive material will be considered, obscene material will be rejected.
• Finalists must be present on Tuesday, Mar. 17th at The Shamrock Pub in Sarasota, FL.
• Readings will begin at approximately 6 p.m.
• Named finalist may appoint a designee to read the limerick.
• One vote per day, per registered user. All voting must follow the rules of the contest.
• The contest is open to Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota county residents who are 21 years of age and older.
• Please allow up to 24 hours for limerick to be approved and, therefore, appear online.
• Click below for complete rules.

Note: Any attempt by a contestant to vote more than once per day will result in disqualification of all activity produced by that voter.