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Riddles

Home
Poetry
Riddles

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
5 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. Joshua C. Frank on A Poem on Target’s Transgender Clothing for Youth, and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis BryantMay 30, 2023

    It turns out that Target never took that stuff out in the first place; they’ve been lying to us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PsLiZpSoQ

  2. Margaret Coats on ‘Remorseless’: A Poem by Margaret CoatsMay 30, 2023

    Jeff, I've often driven down Sunset Boulevard, and Hollywood does like the unusual adventure, but I don't think I could…

  3. Margaret Coats on A Poem on Gaslighting and Other Poetry by Brian YapkoMay 30, 2023

    Brian, your stellar clarity, with your creative attention to each line as line, make both these poems readable and approachable,…

  4. Brian A Yapko on A Poem on Gaslighting and Other Poetry by Brian YapkoMay 30, 2023

    Thank you very much, jd. Speaking just for myself, if I thought that anyone, anywhere could change my poems or…

  5. Paul Erlandson on A Poem on Gaslighting and Other Poetry by Brian YapkoMay 30, 2023

    These are both great, Brian! After re-reading, I think I enjoy "With the Stroke of a Pen" even more than…

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