Our Strange Language

When the English tongue we speak

Why is "break" not rhymed with "freak?"

Will you tell me why it's true

We say "sew" but also "few;"

And the maker of a verse

Cannot rhyme his "horse" with "worse;"

"Beard" sounds not the same as "heard;"

"Cord" is different than "word."

Cow is "cow" but low is "low."

"Shoe" is never rhymed with "foe;"

Think of "hose" and "dose" and "lose;"

And think of "goose" and not of "choose;"

Think of "comb" and "tomb" and "bomb;"

"Doll" and "roll", "home" and "some;"

And since "pay" is rhymed with "say,"

Why not "paid" with "said", I may?

We have "blood" and "food" and "good;"

"Mould" is not pronounced like "could;"

Why is it "done" but "gone" and "lone?"

Is there any reason known?

And, in short, it seems to me (that)

Sounds and letters disagree.

 (Unknown Author)