Near-Rhyme

It’s often used in lyrics Since the music cuts some slack But each time I get to hear it, I am taken some aback. For to me, who is a purist, It’s a point in fact that I’m Quite a stickler who objects to Any near- or almost-rhyme. Sometimes laziness explains it, Or the closeness of a word To a rhyming one makes writers Think a real rhyme will be heard. Often there is nothing fitting With the word the poet chose. Finding others to replace it Is a job each stickler knows. There are many who will argue Even Shakespeare sometimes fudged Though that knowledge doesn’t faze me; My beliefs will not be budged.