Society of Classical Poets logo
  • About Us
  • Join
  • Donate
  • Poetry
    Random
    • 'History's Tide' by Clara Huang

      The Society
      October 18, 2021
      Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, High School Submissions, Poetry
      5 Comments
    Recent
    • ‘Frivolity from Quality’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

      The Society
      May 30, 2025
      4
    • ‘The Institute of Peace: Constitution Avenue, N.E.’: A Poem by Michael Curtis

      The Society
      May 29, 2025
      3
    • ‘A Walk in Solitude’: A Poem by Angel L. Villanueva

      The Society
      May 29, 2025
      3
    • SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium—You’re Invited!

      The Society
      May 28, 2025
    • ‘Song of the Heron’ by Ueda Bin, Translated by Yoshikaze Kawakami

      The Society
      May 28, 2025
      6
    • ‘A Taste of Northern New England’ and Other Poems by C.B. Anderson

      The Society
      May 27, 2025
      10
  • Submit
  • Contests
    Random
    • poetry/mantyk/poetry contests

      Winners of 2023 SCP International High School Poetry Competition Announced

      The Society
      February 1, 2024
      High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
      4 Comments
    Recent
    • Winners of Friends of Falun Gong 2025 Poetry Competition Announced

      The Society
      May 13, 2025
      1
    • 2025 Friends of Falun Gong Poetry Competition

      The Society
      March 31, 2025
    • The Best Poems of 2024: Winners of SCP International Poetry Competition

      The Society
      February 1, 2025
      28
    • Winners of 2024 SCP International High School Poetry Competition Announced

      The Society
      February 1, 2025
      2
    • The Best Haiku of 2024: Winners of the 2024 SCP Haiku Competition

      The Society
      September 29, 2024
      14
    • The 2024 Society of Classical Poets International Poetry Competition

      The Society
      August 31, 2024
      16
  • Journal
  • Books
  • Members
  • Poetry Contests
  • Donate
  • About Us
  • Submit
  • Poetry

Riddles

Home
Poetry
Riddles

Three Rhyming Riddles by Matthew J. Morris

The Society
January 28, 2025
Poetry, Riddles
10 Comments
. 1. A rainbow diced to tease unhurried brains __With rotating rows of parallel planes. What is it? . 2. With no known cure, this blight Bends down what was upright Makes distant things draw near While close...

Six Riddles for Autumn 2024, by Evan Mantyk

The Society
November 4, 2024
Humor, Poetry, Riddles
14 Comments
. I. I travel thanks to water, But do not float or sail. More quickly than an otter And have a smoke-like tail. What am I? . II>. II. When at the beach, I soak up sun, Look down on waves (that’s...

10 New Riddles for Mid-Autumn Festival 2022

The Society
September 8, 2022
Children's, Culture, Poetry, Riddles
10 Comments
. The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, falls on Sept. 10 this year. A common tradition is to read riddles hung from lanterns while under the moonlight. The holiday usually corresponds to the harvest...

Two Riddles by Jack DesBois

The Society
July 2, 2022
Poetry, Riddles
11 Comments
. Riddle This tiny thief Has ground to grief Many a mighty poem, No wiser for The learned lore He nibbles, tome by tome— But though he'll munch My words for lunch, He never eats his own. . . Name the...

An Over-18 Riddle: ‘Let’s Do It!’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
November 2, 2020
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Riddles
36 Comments
Let's Do It! The surgeon does it in a snip within a stitch of time. The comic does it with a quip, the actor with a line. Morticians do it clad in black with grave and stiff demeanor. The lawyer on the...

20 Riddles by Evan Mantyk

The Society
October 23, 2020
Children's, Culture, Poetry, Riddles
44 Comments
Post your answers in the comments section below. I. A place that never is in its own place And where it is is where it’s made to be; Not that it’s made from scratch within that space Where traces of...

‘Grapes’ and More Phobia Limerick Riddles by Jan Darling

The Society
January 15, 2020
Culture, Humor, Limerick, Poetry, Riddles
9 Comments
Grapes Peel me a grape But remove the seed I love the flesh But have no need Of hard encounters In the skin Juicy, fat, dry or thin. On second thoughts—feed me gin.     More Phobia...

Phobia Limerick Riddles, by Jan Darling

The Society
December 14, 2019
Culture, Humor, Limerick, Poetry, Riddles
45 Comments
  Each poem below describes a phobia. Guess what the person is scared of in each. For extra credit try to name the phobia’s official name. Post your answers in the comments section...

‘Three Riddles’ by Rupert Palmer

The Society
September 6, 2019
Culture, Poetry, Riddles
11 Comments
I. Half-man half-beast I seem to be A thousand years is naught to me For I watch kings and kingdoms die Who once were gods, beneath me lie In plundered graves they rest no more Yet still I stand, through...

Ten Best Rhyming Riddles of 2019

The Society
August 20, 2019
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
13 Comments
Thank you to everyone who participated! Judges: Joseph S. Salemi, Adam Sedia, Manfred Dietrich   First ($100 Prize) A spike is there, but it’s not gold, Some forests have them, so I’m told. They...

Rhyming Riddle Contest 2019

The Society
July 10, 2019
Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
271 Comments
Winners of the contest can be found here. From the riddle posed by King Solomon to the Philistines to the philosophy of riddles put forth by Aristotle to the riddles posed by Gollum to Bilbo Baggins in...

A Riddle by Brian Douthit

The Society
July 7, 2019
Children's, Poetry, Riddles
9 Comments
Stalks of brown and amber and gold, mighty when young, wither when old. Bleached by the sun and watered daily, Length may distinguish if lord or lady.   Post your answer in the comments section...

A Riddle by Horus Hardtke

The Society
May 24, 2019
Children's, Poetry, Riddles
3 Comments
  Skin hard as jade, Mouth like a blade, I’m seldom dry, A dross lookst I, And hard to find, But my inside Has hidden treasure For woman’s pleasure.   Put your answers in the...

Poetry Challenge: Write a Square Poem

The Society
May 14, 2019
Culture, Poetry, Riddles
30 Comments
by David Watt I recently came across the following “square poem” attributed to Charles Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carrol). Please note that each of the six lines may be read horizontally, or...

A Riddle by Connie Phillips

The Society
May 8, 2019
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Riddles
8 Comments
Riddle No. 1 So astounding is this part— A major muscle, like your heart. And so astonishing its job, Without it you would be a blob: You couldn’t stand or lift or bend— You’d be a pretzel in...
poem/macgregor/education

A Brief History of Riddles

The Society
October 13, 2018
Culture, Essays, Poetry, Riddles
7 Comments
by Manfred Dietrich The world is riddled with riddles. Riddling is as old and as ubiquitous as language itself. When God invited Adam to name the beasts and the beauties of creation, he showed that each...

Three 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...
poetry/tweedie/equal

Ten Best Riddles of 2018: Contest Winners Announced

The Society
August 13, 2018
Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
8 Comments
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this a great year for rhyming riddles! —Evan Mantyk, Judge First Place ($100): Monty Phillips, France I’ve never been exactly sure How long I’ve been...
poetry/tweedie/equal

Rhyming Riddle Contest

The Society
June 27, 2018
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
177 Comments
Winners announced here. Scroll down and read the comments section to enjoy all of the submissions. What has no subject one can tell, Yet tries to make it ring a bell? What makes you scratch your head...

‘Song of Us’ and Other Poetry by by Amy Foreman

The Society
May 27, 2018
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Riddles
25 Comments
Song of Us Face to face, polite and careful, Tentative we were, and prayerful, Neither one of us would dare pull More from this than met the eye. . . . Yet Side by side we worked together, Hands of...

‘The Maid of Orleans’ and Other Poetry by Nicky Hetherington

The Society
March 22, 2018
Culture, Poetry, Riddles, Villanelle
10 Comments
  The Maid of Orleans A villanelle on Joan of Arc As I gazed at the flames of the fire my heart, with all there that day, broke – such strength could not help but inspire. A young woman burnt as...

‘A Sonnet Riddle’ by Sharon Zhou

The Society
February 3, 2018
Poetry, Riddles
11 Comments
I’m born from a forked tongue’s hissing mutter, An ungrounded half-truth, forceless and tame. Just like a spark struck from flint I shudder At greater forces, a delicate flame, But human speech kindles...

‘On President Trump’s First Year in Office’ and Other Poetry by Evan Mantyk

The Society
January 19, 2018
Deconstructing Communism, Humor, Poetry, Riddles
16 Comments
  On President Trump’s First Year in Office An earlier version of this poem was published with an explication in The Epoch Times. In Donald Trump we’ve found a man Who can the tides of time...

‘Another Cakewalk’ and Other Poetry by Peter G. Epps

The Society
November 28, 2017
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Riddles
2 Comments
  Another Cakewalk Mark Twain may not be safe to read, at least in public places, Because he gawks with foolish words at human folly's faces; But take a moment to digest (puts iron in your...

Excerpts from ‘Bones of Earth’ and Other Poetry by Michael Curtis

The Society
August 23, 2017
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Riddles
2 Comments
Proem In rhyming, timing is everything. Rhymes in wrong places make awkward spaces. A rhyme in rhyming knows more than prose. Rhymes are the rings you hear in the mind’s ear. Nature’s rhymes are free:...

Rhyming Riddle Contest Winners Announced

The Society
August 10, 2017
Culture, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
1 Comment
Thank you to everyone who participated! Judges Dusty Grein, Michael Curtis, and Damian Robin have selected the below winners for the first Rhyming Riddle Contest. Judge Curtis said meter was...

Rhyming Riddle Contest

The Society
July 1, 2017
Poetry Contests, Riddles
142 Comments
RULES: A riddle for your thoughts? Write a rhyming riddle, any length and paste it in the comments section below with your name and area of residence. Do not include the answer. Let people guess and then...

‘Riddle Two’ and Other Poetry by Michelle Tamara Simon

The Society
June 22, 2017
Humor, Poetry, Riddles
6 Comments
  Riddle Two Now give these lines a gander Be you bold enough to try Find fun, full-fashioned candor Take care. Some smart cells may fry On this surface so smooth In perfect timing we...

‘Riddling Away’ and Other Poetry by Nicholas Froumis

The Society
April 23, 2017
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Riddles
2 Comments
  Riddling Away What slips and squanders, and has no matter? Leaves one to ponder, and rarely flatters? Is never enough to go all around, and often too rough when finally found? And where will...

‘Riddle’ by Michelle Tamara Simon

The Society
January 14, 2017
Poetry, Riddles
7 Comments
  Here is a riddle, a brain-teaser of sorts Rev up your noggin or the answer you’ll miss Mark. Set. Get ready for a fun little sport The pivotal problem goes something like this: Some of gold....

33 Riddles for Young and Old

The Society
November 24, 2016
Humor, Poetry, Riddles
4 Comments
By Evan Mantyk I. I’m thinner than most cars you see, I do not guzzle as much gas, And if I ever want to flee, Between two cars I’ll eas’ly pass! What am I? II. I’m in the water but can’t...

10 Riddles by Mike Munsell

The Society
March 12, 2016
Humor, Poetry, Riddles
2 Comments
1.) The prankster's favorite home decor, Clockwise or counter, the choice is yours. Never eaten, found in bowls. Around I go, I'm on a roll. What am I? ANSWER   2.) A flightless bird,...

‘Counterfeit Martyrdom’ and Other Poetry by Basil Fillis

The Society
February 21, 2016
Culture, Poetry, Riddles, Terrorism
5 Comments
Counterfeit Martyrdom Evil terrorists 'round the world Reject God's law, "Thou shalt not kill." Minds indoctrinated, furled up in a cold and savage will! Real martyrs are the brave who die adhering to...

’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...

25 Riddles by Evan Mantyk (with Answers)

The Society
October 4, 2015
Humor, Poetry, Riddles
3 Comments
For 30 more riddles click here. I. I may not have a large population Compared to China or the United States, But more than those two or any nation I’ve more coastline and freshwater supplies. What...

30 Riddles by Evan Mantyk (+Answers)

The Society
September 23, 2013
Humor, Poetry, Riddles
7 Comments
Click here for more riddles I. My mirror image never is that far, I have five different points just like a star, While I’ve no mouth or tongue that I employ, I make a sound quite loud when struck with...

‘A Disturbing Riddle’ by Evan Mantyk

The Society
July 19, 2013
Poetry, Riddles
4 Comments
A disturbing riddle was told to me: “The city of evil that starts with ‘B’ That has six more letters after that one, Will be, by bloody tragedy, undone. “The nations all love this mighty...
  1. Mary Jane Myers on ‘Young Catherine’s Vision’ and Other Poetry by Mary Jane MyersMay 30, 2025

    Joseph Thank you so much for your encouraging comments. I appreciate so much your "close reading" of my work. I'm…

  2. Margaret Brinton on ‘A Walk in Solitude’: A Poem by Angel L. VillanuevaMay 30, 2025

    Lovely lyrics!

  3. Mary Jane Myers on ‘Young Catherine’s Vision’ and Other Poetry by Mary Jane MyersMay 30, 2025

    Dear Julian Thank you for your encouraging comments. The second poem is an exercise in iambic pentameter. The incident is…

  4. Russel Winick on ‘Frivolity from Quality’ and Other Poems by Russel WinickMay 30, 2025

    Thank you Arthur - I enjoyed these comments. Much appreciated!

  5. Russel Winick on ‘Frivolity from Quality’ and Other Poems by Russel WinickMay 30, 2025

    And you are always kind! Thank you, Roy.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Daily Poems

Subscribe to receive updates in your email inbox

poetry/benson brown/reading

Categories

  • Acrostic
  • Alexandroid
  • Alliterative
  • Art
  • Beauty
  • Best Poems
  • Blank Verse
  • Chant Royal
  • Chaucer
  • Children's
  • Classical Poets Live
  • Clerihew
  • Covid-19
  • Culture
  • Dante
  • Deconstructing Communism
  • Education
  • Ekphrastic
  • Epic
  • Epigrams and Proverbs
  • Essays
  • Featured
  • Found Poem
  • From the Society
  • Haiku and Senryu
  • High School Submissions
  • Homer
  • Human Rights in China
  • Humor
  • Interviews
  • Limerick
  • Love Poems
  • Music
  • Pantoum
  • Performing Arts
  • Poetry
  • Poetry Challenge
  • Poetry Contests
  • Poetry Forms
  • Popular Poetry Archives
  • Readings
  • Reviews
  • Rhupunt
  • Riddles
  • Rondeau
  • Rondeau Redoublé
  • Rondel
  • Rubaiyat
  • Sapphic Verse
  • Satire
  • Science
  • Sestina
  • Shakespeare
  • Shape Poems
  • Short Stories
  • Song Lyrics
  • Symposium
  • Terrorism
  • Terza Rima
  • The Environment
  • The Raven
  • Translation
  • Triolet
  • Video
  • Villanelle

Poetry Archive

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • Poetry Resources
  • Poetry Readings
  • High School Poetry
  • Translation
  • Poetry Contests
  • Poetry Forms
  • From the Society
  • Poetry Archive
  • Education
  • Humor
  • Reviews
  • About Us
  • The Raven
  • Riddles
  • Journal
  • Members
  • Terms of Use
  • The Society of Classical Poets © 2024