“It is greater than God and more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it you’ll die.” What is it?

Answer: nothing

Riddles have fascinated the human mind for years. Since Shakespeare’s Hamlet:

“What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?” (Answer: a gravedigger)

…through the centuries till  1995’s Batman Forever :

“Tear one off and scratch my head.

What once was red is black instead.” (Answer: a match)

…riddles have provided a source of conversation and fun for all ages.

Riddles train your brain to think several steps ahead of the intended destination. Writing them takes a thought process that maps out the thought process of thinking several steps ahead of the intended destination.

For this reason, writing riddles is a great brain teaser and and awesome literary exercise! The other day two of my siblings and I spent the morning in a brain workout, writing riddles about colors.

The rules were:

• Do not name the color your riddle is focused on.
• Write each sentence of the riddle focusing on an object associated with the color.
• Do not name any object associated with the color you are writing about.

We turned out some pretty bomb pieces and enjoyed presenting them to our family!

Target color: Blue

“A blanket vast enfolds the earth. A cold, sad face reveals a broken heart-cry. Tiny wings of song flit from tree to tree, bringing happiness to a wold of woe. Columbus sailed to find that newer world. And still today, great masts of ships o’erlook our faithful sailors. “

Target Color: Yellow

“Why do men seek for wealth they cannot keep? The third illusion leads the Irish on an empty journey. A ball of fire darkens in a moment of destiny. Call a man a chicken if his coward blood persists.”

Want a fun short writing project? Create riddles to challenge your friends and family. They expand your mind in ways no other type of literature can, and create educational forms of entertainment that have no replacement.

Email me at lolitaallgyer@gmail.com if the above riddles need expounding.