Twenty One Points Divide And Dance
Twenty one points divide and dance,
Twirling and leaping about,
Ladies, Romans and knights of France,
Craving a victor’s rout,
Wrought of wood, ivory or bone,
An exciting yet vicious pursuit,
Ancient, forbidden and crooked,
All in search of the loot.
A die. The standard die has 21 pips (or points), divided up on the six sides of the die which dance around when rolled. Ladies, knights and Romans all played dice as a pastime (though not together). Dice can be made of wood, ivory and bone, among other materials. Dice have been used in Asia since before recorded history and many governments tried unsuccessfully to outlaw the game. Professional gamblers were common and often used loaded dice. Desperate German chaps even bet their own liberty on a single roll of the dice.
Snake Coiled Round and Round
Snake coiled round and round,
Snake deep below the ground,
Snake that’s never had a head,
Snake that binds but not with dread.
A rope.
I Am And Yet Cannot
I am and yet cannot,
I’m an idea, yet can rot,
I’m two but none,
On land but on sea.
What am I?
A paradox / pair of docks.
Garlic or Spice
Before any changes I’m a garlic or spice. My first is altered and I’m a hand-warming device. My second is changed and I’m trees in full bloom. The next letter change makes a deathly old tomb. Change the fourth to make a fruit of the vine. Change the last for a chart plotted with lines. What was I? What did I become? What did I turn out to be?
clove
glove
grove
grave
grape
graph
If You Have Three, You Have Three
If you have three, you have three.
If you have two, you have two.
But if you have one, you have none.
What am I?
Choices.
My Thunder, Lightning and Rain
My thunder comes before the lightning.
My lightning comes before the clouds.
My rain dries all the land it touches.
What am I?
A volcano.
(via Reddit)