’10 Riddles’ by Damian Robin The Society December 27, 2015 Poetry, Riddles 2 Comments 1 it shows many sides but usually 2 — can boil & bluster & end in a stew — can be clear as crystal & cut a sharp view — or narrow to nothing but be taken as true 2 it holds symbols & keys & opens up views — it helps us to see into olds & news 3 they show vanity in scenery the familiar in the strange & friendship’s range 4 I can fly I can make crowds roar I can pass by beside, behind, before I get caught in nets but seldom in the sea I cause regrets and ecstasy 5 I clean up highlighters, crumbs, cup stains, bent staples — end up with cramped books/ notes/sheets crammed in nooks ’n’ crannies — but things look s- mart — tidy — — put away neatly — by me — the boss of busy — the best or- ganiser in a- ll the world — till its encore — 6 up n down noisy n mute straight or round mainly on foot 7 I can pump your drooping drive. In deep extremes, flush you alive. And I can dam your self-esteem, flood it with addiction’s cream until you wake, far, far, downstream. 8 A hole in the ground (usually round) not straight down like a well — straight ahead, on the level, to help people travel. 9 In the UK, a space for a bum. In the US, a place for a fanny. Tho’ often fitting more than one, it may change its name if there’s many. 10 Of both you could equally say: they’re under a cloud, one cloud in the sky — or not far apart joined by one sunbeam’s ray — though unseen at night they’re close anyway. ***Answers Below*** [1 an argument ] [2 tv remote control stick ] [3 selfies ] [4 a soccer ball ] [5 tidying my desk ] [6 stairs ] [7 stress/adrenalin ] [8 a tunnel ] [9 seat, chair, stool > bench, sofa, couch ] [10 next door ] Damian Robin lives in England. He works for an international newspaper and a bilingual magazine. He lives with his wife and three children. Featured Image: “Oedipus and the Sphinx” by Francois Xavier Fabre. 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. 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)Trending now: 2 Responses Terence Marin December 30, 2015 My family’s guesses, some of which I think could apply 2. a computer keyboard 3. postcard 4. basketball 5. waste basket 6. sock 8. subway entrance 9. Pants Thanks for the fun rhymes! Reply Damian Robin January 29, 2016 Thanks to the Marin fam’ly for giving new guesses to me. They’ve opened my eyes and here I devise an interim prize — something ephemeral, jokey and general. Are their gueses eternal? We can only wait and see. In the meanwhile we’ll keep them internal — in the 2016, all new and clean pages of the Society of Classical Poets Journal !! (Out in Spring) Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website 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.
Terence Marin December 30, 2015 My family’s guesses, some of which I think could apply 2. a computer keyboard 3. postcard 4. basketball 5. waste basket 6. sock 8. subway entrance 9. Pants Thanks for the fun rhymes! Reply
Damian Robin January 29, 2016 Thanks to the Marin fam’ly for giving new guesses to me. They’ve opened my eyes and here I devise an interim prize — something ephemeral, jokey and general. Are their gueses eternal? We can only wait and see. In the meanwhile we’ll keep them internal — in the 2016, all new and clean pages of the Society of Classical Poets Journal !! (Out in Spring) Reply