Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, April 21, 2014

R is for...

Click HERE for a list of all
the participants!
For this, my 5th year doing the Challenge, it's the
A to Z of Anansi the spider.

R is for Riddles


In my book, Anansi and Company, I have included, after each story, a traditional riddle that comes directly from Martha Warren Beckwith's book, Jamaica Anansi Stories.

Some riddles have a European flavor to them as in this one:

My father have twenty-five white horses in a row, if one trot all trot, if one gallop all gallop, if one stop all stop, and one cannot go on without the other.

It's very similar to: Thirty white horses on a red hill. Now they champ, now they stamp, now they stand still.

The answer, of course, is TEETH.

But many of the riddles are decidedly West Indian: My father have a thing in his yard, run off cover up the whole ground. The answer is a pumpkin vine, or the squash I posted about under P.

Here are some riddles for you to try. I'll post the answers on Wednesday the 23rd under T.

As a bonus I'm offering a free e-copy for Kindle of Anansi and Company! All you have to do is answer one or all of the riddles. The more you answer correctly the more chances you have of winning. I'll put all the correct answers (along with your name) in a hat and draw a winner. So Give it a try!

If there is a winner, I will announce it on Wednesday!

1.) My father has a tree full of apples and not a man can count them. What are they?

2.) My mother put on a pot of food to boil; the top boil before the bottom. What is it?

This last riddle is one that was told to me by an elderly St. Thomian lady and is one she heard as a child.

3.) I walk up a hill. I meet a man. I cut off he head. I poke out he eyes. I drink he blood. I eat he flesh. I throw away he bones. What am I?

24 comments:

  1. Hahahaha those went right over my head, and I'm usually very good at riddles. :-D

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  2. I'm going to have to wait for the answers!

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  3. I couldn't guess any of the ones in the book, either.

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  4. Ummm, yep, definitely have no ideas! Sound like fun though :)

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  5. Riddles riddles riddles. I love them. And they always make me think of The Hobbit.

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  6. Hi, Bish,


    Fun riddles...

    I guess the first one WORMS... LOL.

    second... Water?

    three.. cannibal?

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  7. Bish, the riddles just flew over my hands. I am waiting for the answers.

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  8. You totally got me on the riddles. I feel like the apple one must have something to do with women (since no MAN can count them), and the last one maybe something religious? Sounds a little like drinking the blood and flesh of Christ kind of thing, but I can't get it.

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  9. Oh no. You and DMS are both riddling me now, and I'm horrid at these.

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  10. Hi Bish .. I just think that clever man from Chicago might be right - I'll put my Easter eggs into his basket!!

    Here's to Wednesday .. what a fun idea for Anansi .. cheers Hilary

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  11. My hubby could totally figure these out. My 13 year old would totally get into them too. Alas, my mental riddling resources are all tied up in plots and characters--if you know what I mean? I might have to send my son over after he finishes his school day.

    True Heroes from A to Z

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  12. All I could come up with was a cannibal for 3.

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  13. I am absolutely terrible at these! Will have to wait for the answers.

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  14. I must really suck at riddles, because I didn't get any of those, not even the teeth one--at least not until you explained it to me, then I got it, but I don't think that counts.

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  15. Oh great! I'm really terrible at riddles! But this was a fun read!

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  16. Guess I'll have to tune in tomorrow for the answers.

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  17. I STINK at riddles. Much as I'd love to win, I really have no idea!! I'll come back and find out, though :)

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  18. I'm no good at riddles either. But what a great idea for your book.

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  19. Clueless.. But I am going for #3 to be some kind of melon.

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  20. I am horrible at riddles! I could literally sit here all night and not be able to figure out a one, lol!

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  21. I'm terrible at riddles. And then when you hear the answers, they always seem so obvious. Isn't that the way? :)

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  22. I am terrible at riddles! :( But thanks for exercising my brain a little!

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  23. I suck at riddles--- but I applaud the concept :)

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  24. I'm not good at riddles in the first place, and the ones in your book were hard for me.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!