Language over time

More about Language over time

Our Strange Language
Lord Cromer
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 likewise "few";
And the maker of a verse
Cannot rhyme his "horse" with Worse"?
"Beard" sounds not the same as "heard",
"Cord" Is different from 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 yet of "choose"
Think of "comb" and tomb" and "bomb",
"Doll" and "roll" and "home" and "some",
And since "pay" Is rhymed with "say"
Why not "paid" with "sald", I pray?
We have "blood* and "food" and "good*:
"Mould* Is not pronounced Ilke "could",
Wherefore "done" but "gone" and "lone"?
Is there any reason known?
And, in short, It seems to me
Sounds and letters disagree.