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I saw this rhyme the other day and couldn't make sense of it. Perhaps I am missing something. Can you help?

Oh, Rick and Corry battle mice.
Two step out, in steps Man.
A trap, a nail, and bell are back.
'E can con. Oh, 'e can!

Hint:

Arable way. Jam.

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  • $\begingroup$ This smells Shakespearean... $\endgroup$
    – Alconja
    Nov 24, 2017 at 4:47
  • $\begingroup$ Should 'E and 'e be understood as HE and he respectively? $\endgroup$ Nov 24, 2017 at 7:50
  • $\begingroup$ @Alconja By the rood, thou takest not my meaning. $\endgroup$ Nov 24, 2017 at 8:48
  • $\begingroup$ @MeaCulpaNay Sure, if you like. $\endgroup$ Nov 24, 2017 at 8:49
  • $\begingroup$ Rick and Corry reminds me of Pawn Stars. :P $\endgroup$
    – Sid
    Nov 24, 2017 at 13:25

2 Answers 2

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A post to open:

Each word in this ode can have door attached to make another word. (Sometimes homophones are used and these are italicized below.)

Oh, Rick and Corry battle mice.

Odour, Doric and corridor battledoor dormice.

Two step out, in steps Man.

Tudor doorstep outdoor, indoor doorsteps doorman.

A trap, a nail, and bell are back.

Adore trapdoor, adore doornail, and doorbell ardour backdoor.

'E can con. Oh, 'e can!

Doe(r) candour condor. Odour, doe(r) candour!

Hint: Arable way. Jam.

Adorable (include do or sound of door) doorway. Doorjamb

The Title and closing remarks

To Do(,)or Do Without is adorned with Door.

Without much further ado I am uncertain of 'and' also 'E where it may attach 'Do' or may be for soundalike 'doer'. Also Hugh posted a cryptic comment 'By the rood (backdoor), thou takest not my meaning.' in response to a question on Shakespearean similarity, so this is full of doors.

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    $\begingroup$ Congrats! I was thinking adorned for and (yes, a bit of a stretch but it sounded good to me) and dory (‘e) is a kind of fish. The title was meant to suggest that the puzzle “does without” the keyword. Well done! $\endgroup$ Nov 25, 2017 at 11:50
  • $\begingroup$ Ah. And as you pointed out I cheated a little on the hint: I was doubling the r in a-dor-rable. The more usual spelling of the word in the first line is battledore. Not super common but not an obscure dictionary addendum either. Cheers. $\endgroup$ Nov 25, 2017 at 20:50
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If I got your lines it is like

First line means

Rick and Corry looking for the solution for mice in their room/house

Second line means

The mouse is getting in and out.They are unable to catch the mouse.

The third line means

They are saying that they need a mouse trap, nails(to block the other exit/entrance of mouse), and bell (which rand on mouse caught)

Fourth line means

They are saying we can capture the mouse

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  • $\begingroup$ Please hide your spoilers $\endgroup$ Nov 24, 2017 at 16:25

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