Edward Lear was a poet who was born on May 12, 1812 in the village of Holloway, England.  He is best known today for his nonsensical poetry especially limericks.

Poetry:

Alphabet Poem
 
Calico Pie

The Daddy Long-Legs and the Fly

The Duck and the Kangaroo

The Jumblies

The Owl and the Pussycat

The Table and the Chair

Limericks:

A limerick is a silly poem with five lines.  They are often funny or nonsensical.

There was a Young Lady of Ryde

There was a Young Lady whose Bonnet

There was an Old Man in a Boat

There was an Old Man in a Tree

There was an Old Man of Kilkenny

There was an Old Man of Marseilles

There was an Old Man of Quebec

There was an Old Man who Supposed

There was an Old Man with a Beard

There was an Old Man with a Flute