In an online discussion, I queried the use of ‘dove’ as the past tense of ‘to dive’. I received the following explanation:

“...However, there have occasionally been changes in the other direction: the past tense of wear, now wore, was once werede, and that of spit, now spat, was once spitede. The development of dove [as the past tense of ‘to dive’] is an additional example of the small group of verbs that have swum against the historical tide.” — American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed.

Faced with such good sense, I retreated into madness...

It's mean to moan, and green to groan
When verbs are turning soft:
Wherefore we fear? No chore to cheer,
Let spirits lift aloft.
Don't pan the pun, let's fan the fun
And make a little rhyme:
No beef I'll barf – I'd liefer laugh
As verbs slide back in time.
These spores inspire, or more enmire
Perversity in verse;
Let woe not win, but grow my grin,
Solemnity disperse!
Although sing-song, I'll wring the wrong,
And all my verbs I'll soften:
I'll write by rote, and quite to quote
“I must do this more often!”