Puzzling Pronunciation
Dearest creature in Creation,
Student of pronounciation,
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
Suzy, I will keep you busy;
Make your head confused and dizzy!
Tears in eye, your hair you'll tear;
"Please be patient" is my prayer .
Certainly I will not plague you
With such words as vague and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Break and steak. but bleak and streak
Wallet sounds unlike ballet,
Which in turn rhymes with chalet.
You'll pronounce it A-okay
If you rhyme it with croquet.
Now hear their and they're and there
Note that ear is not like ere.
Query does not rhyme with very;
Nor does fury sound like bury .
Finally, let's rhyme enough:
Though or through, plough, cough or tough?
(Note that hiccough sounds like cup. )
Take my advice, and give it up!