Arizona Oddities’ Clay Thompson is best known for his long-running column in The Arizona Republic, Valley 101. For decades, he has offered a humorous glimpse into the quirks and oddities surrounding the Valley lifestyle. And earlier this summer, he gave Arizona residents the chance to show off their comedic skills in the Great Big Annual Hot Weather Limerick Contest.

The rules were simple. Come up with a creative limerick (that five-line poem that possibly plagued you as a young student) about the sweaty life we lead here in the Valley. Some 600 Republic readers submitted their witty sentiments, and Clay chose one winner amongst the bunch. Hear his thought process, as well as a few of the standouts:

Produced by The Arizona Republic’s Dave Seibert

You can read some of Clay’s most beloved Valley 101 columns on Arizona Oddities. Among them:

• Prickly Pear Fruit Makes Candy, Jelly
• Frying, Not Flying, in Valley Heat
• McDowell Mountains Aren’t Blast from the Past

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