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Click photo to play
recorded reading
“Tree” rhymes with “debris” – is that simple to see?
And “blue” rhymes with “through” that’s quite true.
You have “me” with one e, also “see” and then “tea” –
Is it getting confusing for you?
Why does “read” rhyme with “need” and “me” rhyme with “knee”
Why does “bread” rhyme with “bed” and not speed?
There’s no reason or “rhyme” why “limb” is like “him” –
If you’re with me so far, we’ll “proceed”.
Now if “scuff” rhymes with “rough” and “cow” rhymes with “bough”
Why does “off” rhyme with “cough” and not “through”?
Then if “thought” rhymes with “caught” and “right” rhymes with “spite”
Then like me, you may not have a clue.
If “mislead” and “precede” sound exactly like greed,
Then “said” and “instead” rhyme with “red”;
If you say “chew” just as “blue” and “niece” is like “peace”
Perhaps this spelling’s too much for your head.
You must “pay” for “bouquets” and “weigh-up” what you say –
Whilst “straight” and “weight” surely must “rhyme”.
Whilst “grow” rhymes with “sew” - I “know” I must “go” –
And do more useful things with my “time”.
Whilst it may be “true” that this poem helps “you”
English spelling was designed to torment.
My accompanying voice, may give cause to rejoice –
My microphone was money well-spent.
Copyright 2006
Try the following exercise: Here are your vowels: A E I O U
How many spellings can you find for each of the above vowels: eg great, wait etc etc You can get a little help from my poem, but find other words for yourselves.