Riddle Poems

[Demeter]

Won in a walk--you and Wordsworth.

 

[Demeter]

Among twenty-eight brothers and sisters,
I am the dependent one.
While the others mix and mingle,
I wait for my brother,
not nearest but dearest,
to come quickly to my side.
Without him, I am a wallflower.
Together, we lead the quadrille.

 

[Kylabelle]

There can be no question or quibble
that the letter 'q' answers this riddle.

 

[_city_]

I come in life and leave in death,
in winter months I hold my breath;
without me life would leave you raw -
you'll find me in your kitchen's maw.

 

[Demeter]

No question at all. And you did that in five minutes or less. Is that a record?

 

[Kylabelle]

I come in life and leave in death,
in winter months I hold my breath;
without me life would leave you raw -
you'll find me in your kitchen's maw.

Oh, good one! I'll have to work on this one.

No question at all. And you did that in five minutes or less. Is that a record?

The 28 gave it away. But look! We have another player amongst us!

 

[Demeter]

That's good. And a tough riddle to solve. It sounds edible and then it doesn't.

 

[Demeter]

Ice? Water turned to ice? Probably not.

 

[Kylabelle]

I keep wanting it to be food, or some kind of food, but the second line remains a puzzle.

Where are the smart people? Surely there are some around here?

 

[Demeter]

Maybe City should give us a hint. What do you think?

 

[Kylabelle]

If he will that would be useful. Maybe.

 

[poetinahat]

A puzzle is a knot to be undone;
its loops must be untangled one by one.
Some yield to gentle tugs, like bands of silk -
but not this one... unless it could be milk?

 

[Demeter]

While we ponder the imponderable:

A roof without a house below
supported by a stem,
I offer room enough for one,
two when gallantry prevails.
Days worst for you are best for me.
I nod and jostle in a throng.
Days clear and bright I languish,
thin and thirsting,
in the dark.

 

[Demeter]

O, ancient Beast,
we stand where Oedipus once stood,
in utter puzzlement, brows creased.
Tell us, if you would be so good,
before we die a Pharaoh's death:
what, in winter, hold its breath?

 

[poetinahat]

As we ponder breath that's held hibernally
I see another riddle is unfurled
The object, if I'm right, is used nocturnally
or in the daytime just as well. The world
is damper - and less dapper - for the fella
who leaves the house forsaking his umbrella

 

[poetinahat]

It seldom comes on time
Too often it's deferred
But there's no Samson ever born
Whose might resists it 'til the morn
But once arrived, submission's quick
and sweet - and dark, and all the worlds
are possible and here.
But it stays awhile, no more -
and as it falls away, it's fought most gamely for.

It may ambush in a monotone
at times of inconvenience
and breaches stoutest defense
it may elude the desperate red-rimmed seeker's eyes

Capricious, maddening, consoling refuge
I've kept you waiting - take me now.

 

[Demeter]

To lullabies
we close our eyes.
May care and worries all forsake us
wherever sleep and dreams should take us.

 

[Kylabelle]

Nicely answered, Demeter!

 

[Demeter]

I loved the riddle and also your quote from Eavan Boland.

 

[Demeter]

Fortress and jailer, gated cage,
a tree’s wild spirit rages in my keep.
Its many tongues spit fury,
resisting capture to the last.
I stand strong while the watchman sleeps,
trusting to my vigilance
the cat, the rug, his slippered feet.

 

[Kylabelle]

I come in life and leave in death,
in winter months I hold my breath;
without me life would leave you raw -
you'll find me in your kitchen's maw.

a riddle lost
in the room's dark corner
begins to wither all alone:
carrion, food for a raven.

I have to guess
for the sake of order,
my chance little better than none.
I'm guessing the answer is "oven".

 

[Demeter]

Close but not quite.

 

[Kylabelle]

Close but not quite.

Okay, but I was guessing the one _city_ posted, not yours.

I have a different guess for yours but was going to wait and see if someone else will chime in for it.

I hope _city_ will return and let me know if I got it right, or not!

 

[Bolen]

I branch out like the letter V
Unhinged, I would be useless
And sometimes while it’s smooth I be
I’m better off not toothless

I often sit for days unused
Unneeded and ignored
But in a pinch I’m not refused
You’re happy I was stored

With errant wooded injuries
My value quotient soars
Or eyebrows raised in victory
Then my performance roars…

Cheers, Bob (why the hell am I not sleeping???)

 

[Bolen]

Okay, but I was guessing the one _city_ posted, not yours.

I have a different guess for yours but was going to wait and see if someone else will chime in for it.

I hope _city_ will return and let me know if I got it right, or not!

Where have all the 'cities' gone...long time passing?