[Martin Rocek]

I think it is settled that in most places, fire rhymes with higher and is two syllables. What about here, tear, etc.?

[Julie Steiner]

I have no problem reading "fire" as either one or two syllables, depending on the context--e.g., metrical requirements, what the poet has rhymed it with, and whether I know or suspect the poet to be from the American South.

That last item reminds me of the kid who insisted that his toy fire truck was an appropriate addition to his family's nativity scene, because he'd heard that the three wise men had come from afar.

I think "here" and "tear" are pretty standardly monosyllabic, though.

[Brian Allgar]

I agree with Julie - one or two syllables, depending on context. 'Fire' rhymes with 'higher', but it also rhymes with 'hire'.

[Jayne Osborn]

There are many other metrically tricky words, one of which is 'child', which I've seen here as requiring to be read with both one and two syllables, though I prefer it as one.

In a poetry workshop I once asked the participants how many syllables there are in 'Romeo and Juliet', and I got the answers 'Five' and 'Seven'!! It all depends whether you elide some of the syllables. Another favourite is ''Strawberries and cream' which, in the UK, is usually pronounced with four syllables not five, as in 'straw-breeze and cream'.

I agree with Julie that 'here' and 'tear' are monosyllabic, more often than not.

And what about February? Three or four? Phonetically, a lot of us would say 'Feb-you-ree' rather than 'Feb-you-a-ree'.

But when any of these words appear in a poem it's usually pretty clear from the meter how the word in question needs to be read... (notice that I said usually )

Jayne

[Michael Cantor]

What Julie said re "fire". It depends completely on context. You can't simply look at that word - or a single line - and decide anything.

[Allen Tice]

This is one of my favrit play air-e-yuz, since I genrly cowunt my syllbles kw-ight careflly. I'm reully pleased that "child" might have two syllbles, or one, depending on its envirnment. It makes me feel all cholomondeley in my featherstonehaugh.

[John Whitworth]

The streets in Febry
Are strewn with debris.

[Ann Drysdale]

Feb-Roo-ary, if you please. I must have been an oyster in a previous life, as I tend to the view that all mensual consonants should be respected.

Besides, people who sneak that extra one out of February are in danger of inserting it into "drawing", which is the last great shibboleth. I got a fair bit of work in audiobooks because I didn't have an intrusive letter. I even have a poem about it, which heaven forfend I should post here...

[Brian Allgar]

Originally Posted by John Whitworth

The streets in Febry
Are strewn with debris.

But that's because the local brewery
Gives all the staff free beer in February.

[John Whitworth]

It's cold in Jannery
Down at the cannery.