A Clerihew is a four-line biographical poem, first created by Edmund Clerihew Bentley. Its structure begins with the name of a well-known person as the first line, followed by three lines that exaggerate, poke fun at, or reveal something fictional or absurd about them. The rhyme scheme is AABB. Clerihews are meant to be lighthearted and humorous, aiming for playful absurdity rather than rudeness., offering a quirky perspective on the life or character of the subject. It’s a fun and creative way to blend biography with satire.
A proper clerihew should place the subject’s name at the end of the first line, though the line need not be limited to just the name.
Robert Frost
The poet who loved snowy woods, Robert Frost,
In paths less traveled, he rarely got lost.
He pondered life in a world that was dense
as a wooded forest with an un-mended fence.
Improper Clerihews
Edmund Bentley
Edmund Bentley invented the Clerihew
Such a simple rhyme to challenge you,
To describe a person, tall, lean, plump, or short.
Or describe what they did, a rhyming report.
Shell Silverstein
Shel Silverstein, quite the quirky gent,
Wrote poems with edges delightfully bent.
From “The Giving Tree” to wacky giraffes,
He made both kids and grown-ups laugh.
WoPoLi 
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