National Clerihew Day

Every year on July 10, poetry lovers celebrate National Clerihew Day. This playful holiday honors the clerihew, a short four-line biographical poem created by English humorist Edmund Clerihew Bentley. Clerihews are known for their light tone, clever wordplay, and a punchline-like twist.

History of National Clerihew Day

Edmund Clerihew Bentley was born in 1875 and wrote his first clerihew as a teenager. He later set the basic expectations for the form: four lines, the first line naming a person, an AABB rhyme scheme, and a humorous or surprising effect. Unlike many traditional poetic forms, clerihews are intentionally irregular in rhythm, which gives writers more freedom to land the joke.

Bentley helped popularize the form through his collection Biography for Beginners. Other writers later contributed their own clerihews and kept the style alive as a kind of literary party trick that still works in classrooms and informal readings.

Interesting Facts About National Clerihew Day

These facts offer a little extra context about clerihews and poetry more broadly.

• In 1905, Bentley’s Biography for Beginners was published and introduced many readers to the clerihew format.
• Some of the earliest known poetry comes from ancient Mesopotamia and dates back thousands of years.
• Metrophobia is the fear of poetry.

How to Take Part in National Clerihew Day

National Clerihew Day is best observed by writing one. Pick a well-known person, think of two matching rhymes, and aim for a humorous ending. You can share clerihews with friends, post one online, or host a short reading at home, work, or school. If you are doing this with kids, a friendly clerihew contest can be an easy way to encourage creativity without making poetry feel intimidating.

When Is National Clerihew Day in 2026?

National Clerihew Day is observed on July 10 each year.

Observations