Clerihews and Balliol Verses

Are these old forms of light verse still practiced?



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The Clerihew is supposed to have an AABB rhyme scheme, which right there puts it out of my poor league. Here’s a sample:



Sir James Dewar

Is a better man than you are

None of you asses

Can liquify gases.



And of course,



First come I. My name is Jowett.

There's no knowledge but I know it.

I am Master of this College,

What I don't know isn't knowledge.





Balliol rhymes are more forgiving:



I'm John Wilson Croker,

I do as I please;

Instead of an Ice House

I give you - a frieze!



This is obscure; Croker was an architect. I think maybe the Wiki contributor was getting tired.



Anyhoo: I feel that Clerihews or something like them deserve to live. Does anybody here agree?



I’m currently reading H. W. Brands’s Masters of Enterprise, about various rich and frequently ruthless characters from the history of American capitalism. Starting from that and armed with a dirty mind (like the rest of you) I’ve made up



I’m J. P. Morgan!

Think my nose is big?

You should see my portfolio!



And



I’m H. L. Hunt!

I says H. L. Hunt!

I’ll drill anything

That promises to come up oil.



A pretty undemanding genre, as you can see. Got anything to contribute?

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