International Limericks 32

© Can Stock Photo & damedeeso used with permission

As an exercise in mental masochism, I shall attempt to produce, in strict alphabetic sequence, a limerick based on the name of each of the 193 member-states of the United Nations* (using the short name as commonly used in UK English, abbreviated where it is common practice or makes it easier).

* from the official list available on-line on 5th July, 2021. The addition or removal of countries during the course of this exercise will not be reflected Changes of name will only be reflected if it is in my interests to do so.

Comments or implied comments about countries, including those of a geographical nature, are often the result of my struggle to find a set of words that will satisfy the rhythmic and metric requirements of the format. As such, they don’t necessarily reflect my experiences or opinions, or indeed any form of reality.

Let me know what you think.

TURKEY

The weather here’s often quite murky,
The people sometimes just too quirky.
It gives me an urge,
My money to splurge
On a fortnight unwinding in Turkey.

TURKMENISTAN

The thing with my sailor friend, Dan,
Is he’s really from Turkmenistan.
Though he follows the breeze
O’er all the world’s seas,
He gets back whenever he can.

TUVALU

Another South Sea paradise,
Tuvalu is thoroughly nice.
But use suntan lotion
Coz out on the ocean
The sun will burn you in a trice.

UGANDA

Sitting out on a bamboo verandah
You see in a tree a Red Panda.
If you have any doubts
About your whereabouts,
Here’s a clue, you are not in Uganda.

UKRAINE

The military tanks on a train
Are said to be leaving Ukraine.
But if what you perceive
Is what you believe,
There’s something they need to explain.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(UAE)

Since I lived in the UAE
On the coast of Dubai, near the sea.
Its wealth has exploded
And now, if you’re loaded
It’s the obvious place you should be.

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Bear with me - not long to go now.