Five Riddles for Mid-Autumn 2025
I.
I’m red and roaring
But wet and cooling.
I have four doors
On my first floor,
But also a ladder
To take you higher.
What am I?
II.
A million, billion, trillion, more,
I’ll eat them all until there’s nothing.
The way I eat is multiplying,
And yet I’m empty at my core.
What am I?
III.
I rise up with the morning sun
And go down when the world feels sleepy,
But night is when my work’s begun.
And if the job I do’s well done,
You’ll hold your head straight and be happy.
What am I?
IV.
Don’t shake me up or you’ll feel bitter.
My friend is worse, he’s quite a hitter.
He’ll knock you in the mouth or nose.
Don’t worry we won’t come to blows
As long as you are gentle with us;
Then you will love and sometimes miss us.
What are we?
V.
Some say I look just like a pine cone
And that’s how I was named,
But looking deeper truly I’m shone—
An eye with powers famed.
What am I?
Put your answers in the comments below to see if you are right.
Evan Mantyk teaches literature and history in New York and is Editor of the Society of Classical Poets. His most recent books of poetry are Heroes of the East and West, and a translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Is number III the human conscience?
I have some possible and some probable answers:
I. Fire Truck: I am fairly confident of this one, since we often think of a fire truck engine and siren roaring, spraying water and having four doors and a ladder.
II. Black Hole in Space: I am not sure of this one, since it could be internal to the body or a lot of other things.
III. A Mattress or a Pillow: I thought of mattress first, but when the head is added, it is more likely a pillow.
IV. Soy Sauce and either Teriyaki or Wasabi: I began with the thought it had to be a sauce, condiment, or drink. I understood many years ago I should not shake up soy sauce, since it would taste bitter. I am entirely uncertain of the second one. I could be wrong on both, since a sauce with something like jalapenos, or a drink with something added could account for both.
V. Pineal Gland: I am most uncertain of this answer. I must admit I went to a dictionary to see if there was a word close to pine and found the pineal gland is shaped like a pine cone and is associated with intuition (like an eye).
I think Roy is correct about I, II, IV, and V.
As for III, my speculation is that it is the penis. Men have erections when waking up, but they detumesce as the day goes on. However, their real work begins at night when they are in bed with their wives or mistresses. And if the work is successfully done, everybody’s happy.
Number 2 reminds me of the IRS and the Federal Reserve Central Banking system.
I. A fire engine
II. A black hole
III. Circadian rhythm
I’m going with 0, zero, for the second riddle…
Yes!
Good work, everyone! Mostly correct and some very creative interpretations that I had not considered.
I. Fire truck (good job, Roy! for this and the others)
II. Zero (well done, Mike!)
III. Pillow
IV. ???
V. Pineal Gland
I thought IV was the best written, or perhaps not… see if you can guess it. If not, I’ll drop a hint.
IV. Two cans of beer, perhaps?
IV. Salt and pepper??
You got it! Well done, Roy!
But what do these riddles have to do with mid-autumn? Only that that’s when they were posted?
Kip, that’s a very perceptive question. My Chinese students celebrate the Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival, corresponding to the Harvest Moon. It is the second largest holiday, after the New Year, in their tradition. One of the customs is answering riddles, so I write these for my students.
I guessed II was Pac-Man and III was eyelid.