Limerick writers, sharpen your 2015 pens

When I still taught as an adjunct instructor at both Whitworth and Gonzaga universities, I urged students to treat Wikipedia as a mere beginning spot for research. As my wife likes to say, Wikipedia is a tool, not a source.

But even as a tool, it's sometimes questionable. For example, I was looking up the term "limerick" this morning on the Wikipedia site. Why? Because, as we have in the past, Spokane7 is going to hold a Saint Patrick's Day limericks contest. Beginning today, we will be accepting entries in The 2015 Spokesman-Review Limerick Contest through March 6.

Our 2015 theme? “Once upon a Time in the Inland Northwest,” which invites limerick enthusiasts to create original works that recast classic fairy tales, Grimm's Brother stories or traditional folk tales (Bigfoot, anyone?) in traditional limerick form boasting — and this is all-important — a local reference.

Entries can be submitted online at  www.spokane7.com/limericks_2015/, by email to contests@spokane7.com, by mail or drop-off at The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201.

At least three prizes will be given in both adult and youth categories, each including gift certificates provided by Auntie’s Bookstore and The Spokesman-Review. Top entries will be invited to read their submissions at a special Auntie’s St. Patrick’s Day event in mid-March (date to be determined).

So start writing those limericks. But if you go to Wikipedia to see what a limerick is, pay no attention to the line that describes "clean limericks" as a "periodic fad and object of magazine contests, rarely rising above mediocrity."

Oh, Wikipedia, how sadly ye have treated us. Hmmm, maybe there's a limerick there somewhere.