Clerihew
A clerihew is a whimsical four-line biographical poem, first created by Edmund Clerihew Bentley. Its defining features are humor, lighthearted absurdity, and a simple AABB rhyme scheme.
Subject Focus:
The first line introduces a well-known person, typically ending with their name.
Humorous and Playful Tone:
The remaining lines exaggerate, satirize, or invent absurdities about the person. The goal is to entertain, not offend.
Rhyme Scheme:
The poem follows an AABB rhyme pattern, ensuring a fun and easy-to-follow rhythm.
No Formal Meter:
Clerihews are not bound by a strict meter, allowing for a conversational and free-flowing style.

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 Clerihew:
The Subject’s Name is Missing or Misplaced:
A proper Clerihew should place the subject’s name at the end of the first line. An improper Clerihew deviates from this rule while maintaining biographical intent.
Overly Serious Tone:
Clerihews are inherently lighthearted and whimsical. A serious or critical tone gives more freedom to the poet in an improper clerihew.
Incorrect Rhyme Scheme:
A proper clerihew must follow the AABB rhyme scheme, the improper clerihew gives the poet more rhyme freedom.

Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, a scientific force,
Made relativity his favorite course.
His equations were sharp, his theories were grand,
But his math was far too complex to understand.

Why is it improper:
The subject’s name is placed at the beginning, and the tone leans toward dry fact rather than humor or absurdity. It lacks the whimsical exaggeration expected of a proper clerihew.

Deviations from traditional poetic forms, such as the improper clerihew, can be considered equally valid as their proper counterparts, provided the poet consciously acknowledges these variations and employs them in ways that enhance their artistic expression and voice.