“Owed to a Spell Chequer”

Perhaps you’ve already seen this classic poem, created (so far as I’m aware) at Sonoma State University in California.  But just in case you haven’t, I’m reproducing it here.  And even if you have read it, it’s still funny.

The point is that everything in this poem would be accepted by a computer’s spelling checker, which suggests that there may still be some value, for writers of English, in learning to spell, and that abject and utter dependence upon a computer can lead to embarrassing disaster:

I halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plane lee marques four my revue
Miss steaks aye ken knot sea

Eye ran this poem threw it
Your sure reel glad two no
It’s vary polished in it’s weigh
My chequer tolled me sew

A chequer is a bless sing
It freeze yew lodes of thyme
It helps me awl stiles two reed
And aides mi when aye rime

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud
And wee mussed dew the best wee can
Sew flaws are knot aloud

And now bee cause my spelling
is checked with such grate flare
Their are know faults with in my cite
Of nun eye am a wear

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed to be a joule
The chequer poured o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule

That’s why aye brake in two averse
My righting wants too pleas
Sow now ewe sea wye aye dew prays
Such soft wear for pea seas

Posted from Monterey, California