We'll begin with box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes.

Then one fowl is goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of mouse should never be meese;

You may find a lone mouse or a whole nest of mice,
But the plural of house is houses, not hice;

If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

The cow in the plural may be cows or kine,
And the plural of vow is vows, not vine,

And if I speak of a foot and you show me your feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

If the singular’s this and the plural is these,
Should the plural of kiss be nicknamed keese?

Then one may be that, and three would be those.
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother, and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren;

Then masculine pronouns are he, his, and him,
But imagine the feminine, she, shis, and shim.

So the English, I think, you all will agree,
Is the most wonderful language you ever did see.


This poem is in the public domain.