Painting from the New York Public Library digital collectionThree Riddles by Manfred Dietrich The Society September 5, 2018 Humor, Poetry, Riddles 4 Comments Riddle XXXVII From small beginnings I grow great, just keep up the heat and wait, help me become the thing I am, give me all the heat you can. Let me transform the gathered dew and I’ll transform the world for you. Tend me well from hour to hour and I’ll reward you with vast power. Vast clouds of strength, yours to command, as I grow greater and expand, can carry you to distant lands across oceans and desert sands, propel you to heights or turn on your lights, but don’t neglect me—I can explode. Heed my whistle when it blows. Riddles for Aldhelm I. We carry clouds until we die Though cut for crutches, death means little Since support is the trade we ply And on our shoulders sparrows nestle. We nurture children carefully Upon our very fingertips, But the first night that’s summery, We scatter them from moonlit grips. We challenge geometric space And have no need of gravity, For earth and air and wind we grace. II. I’m born in prison and cannot leave, And yet unbound by space or time. Though the door’s unbolted I can’t heave It open till the jailer dies. I travel with him forced to follow, Though he’s lost without me here. Should I die one day he’d also. To me, his slave, he must adhere. Post your answer in the comments section below. Manfred Dietrich is a senior, semi-retired from a business career, living in Hamilton, Canada. He received degrees in English Literature in the 1970s, whereupon he went to England as a Commonwealth Scholar and a Canada Council for the Arts scholar to pursue doctoral research on the poetry of Matthew Arnold. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. CODEC Stories:Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) 4 Responses Joseph Tessitore September 5, 2018 Pretty sure about steam, not quite so sure about trees and keys! Reply James A. Tweedie September 5, 2018 I agree with Joseph about steam. I would also agree about trees but would specify a conifer shedding cones (children) in summer. For the third my guess is the human mind. Great fun. Thanks. Reply J. Simon Harris September 5, 2018 First one is steam, third one is the soul. I couldn’t work out the second one myself, but Mr. Tessitore’s conjecture (trees) seems right to me. I really enjoyed these riddles, by the way! Reply Joe Spring September 8, 2018 “We nurture children carefully Upon our very fingertips,” O, that’s beautiful. Reply Leave a Reply to Joe Spring Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Joseph Tessitore September 5, 2018 Pretty sure about steam, not quite so sure about trees and keys! Reply
James A. Tweedie September 5, 2018 I agree with Joseph about steam. I would also agree about trees but would specify a conifer shedding cones (children) in summer. For the third my guess is the human mind. Great fun. Thanks. Reply
J. Simon Harris September 5, 2018 First one is steam, third one is the soul. I couldn’t work out the second one myself, but Mr. Tessitore’s conjecture (trees) seems right to me. I really enjoyed these riddles, by the way! Reply
Joe Spring September 8, 2018 “We nurture children carefully Upon our very fingertips,” O, that’s beautiful. Reply
