Two Haven't Died

Terence runs back to the campsite, and sits on a log, to work on his poem.

Roo-kai flutters down.

You have to help me, says Terence.

I don't have to, says Roo-kai. But I will if I can.

Okay, says Terence. I'm doing two poems.

Two? says Roo-kai.

One called Two botomists have died, says Terence. And one called Two botomists haven't.

You can't call a poem Two botomists haven't, says Roo-kai.

But you said they hadn't, says Terence.

They haven't, says Roo-kai. But the title of the poem doesn't say what they haven't.

Easy, says Terence. Two botomists haven't died.

Much better, says Roo-kai. And is that the one you want help with?

Yes, says Terence. I've got the first line.

Don't tell me, says Roo-kai. Two botomists haven't died.

Yes, says Terence.  And now I'm stuck.

You could say why you thought they had died, says Roo-kai. And then how you found out that they hadn't. And I wouldn't mind if you mentioned me in it.

Okay, says Terence. 

He starts thinking.

Then...

How about this? says Terence:

Two botomists haven't died, 

I thought they had died

Ageless said

They were dead

But Roo-kai said

After that

They went hunting.

That's pretty good, says Roo-kai. I like my part. 

Thanks, says Terence. Did you like all the rhymes?

Died and died isn't strictly a rhyme, says Roo-kai. But it works in the context.

It's not a context, says Terence. 

Okay, says Roo-kai. What about the other one?

Two botomists have died, says Terence. This is the hard one.

Do you want help with that? asks Roo-kai.

You can't help, says Terence. You said they're alive.

I can still imagine, says Roo-kai. Or you could ask Ageless to help you.

Okay, you help me, says Terence. And if it's no good I'll ask Ageless.

What's the first line? asks Roo-kai.

Two botomists have died, says Terence. 

Add some memories, says Roo-kai.

Terence thinks hard.

Then...

Jean-Botomist wanted to do mapping 

but mapping is hard

so he did botany 

but botany is hard

so he did underwater botomy in a Nachoo

But he forgot to eat

and he starved.

That's very moving, says Roo-kai. But what about Carl-Botanist?

The second verse is about him, says Terence. 

Carl-Botomist wanted to do mapping

but mapping is hard...

Roo-kai has to listen to the whole thing again.

But he doesn't mind.