RIDDLES THAT USE
            POETIC DESCRIPTION

More often than not, well written riddles make good use of four linguistic devices: paradox, pun, poetic description and red herring. Sometimes more than one may be used in concert, for it often takes a pun to create a paradox, for example, but, speaking generally, it is these four devices that make riddles become the brain teasers that we all enjoy.
    On this page you'll find a series of riddles that emphasize the use of description (simile, metaphor, analogy among other similar things). But knowing that there is description won't, necessarily, give you much of a hint in solving each riddle, but feel free to give it a try anyway. The answers are in smaller print at the bottom of the page.
    I've not yet seen anyone make this type of study of riddles, so just remember folks: you saw it here first.
copyright © 2013 by A. J. Mittendorf All rights reserved

1.
From the beginning of eternity
to the end of time and space,
to the beginning of every end
and the end of every place.

2.
Until I'm measured I am not known,
yet how you miss me when I have flown.

3. Riddle of the Sphinx
What walks of four legs in the morning,
two legs at mid-day
and three in the evening?

4.
Its thunder roars before its lightning;
its lightning blazes before its clouds;
its clouds provide no rain;
its rain dries all that it touches.

5.
Only one colour, never one size.
Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies.
A friend in the sunshine, at home in the rain.
Doing no harm and feeling no pain.

6.
I'm sometimes white and sometimes black.
I'll take you there, but ne'er bring you back.

7.
I can sizzle like bacon,
    and I come from an egg.
I have plenty of back bone,
    but lack a good leg.
I peal like an onion,
    but I'm always whole.
I'm long like a flag pole
    yet fit in a hole.

8.
I'm tall and I'm skinny, and yet very shy.
I live just an hour then, as quickly, I die.
All that I do in my one given hour
is wander a trail and all things devour.
When e'er people see me, they never are glad,
but when I depart them, they're never more sad.

9.
At times they are green; at times they are brown,
and both of these times, they cause me to frown.
But just in between, for a very short while,
they're perfect and yellow, and cause me to smile.

10.
With silver fangs it lies in wait.
With piercing force it doles out fate.
O'er bloodless victims proclaims its might,
conjoining them ever by only one bite.

11.
No sooner spoken, than broken.

12.
When it is not known, it is something.
When it is known, it is nothing.

13.
Seven brothers:
Five work all day;
the other two
just play and pray.

ANSWERS

1. THE LETTER 'E'

2. TIME

3. A PERSON: ("Legs" is a metaphor for hands and knees in the first description and two legs and a cane in the last.)

4. A VOLCANO

5. SHADOW

6. A HEARSE

7. A SNAKE

8. A TORNADO

9. BANANAS

10. A STAPLER

11. SILENCE

12. A RIDDLE

13. THE DAYS OF THE WEEK: MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY--THE WORK DAYS. SATURDAY--PLAY. SUNDAY--PRAY.