Timbuktu The chief poet of the town dies, so they have to elect a new one. The voting whittles the candidates down to two. The town holds a feast to choose the winner. The mayor stands up and declares that the winner shall be decided by voting on the poem the candidates can come up with on the spot based on a subject of his choosing. The mayor announces the subject will be "Timbuktu." The first candidate stands up, thinks for a moment, and recites: It came across a stormy gale Broad of beam and wide of sail Its keel was white, its hull was blue Its destination: Timbuktu The crowd erupts, they're cheering for the first candidate. The mayor calms the crowd, chiding them to remember they still must hear the other candidate's poem. The second candidate stands up, considers the crowd with utter solemnity, and says: A-hiking Tim and I went, When we came upon three girls in a tent Since they were three and we but two, I bucked one and Tim bucked two