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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: A HOUSEFUL, A SPOONFUL,/ YOU CAN'T CATCH A SPOONFUL.
A: SMOKE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVES SHE HEARD IT FROM HER SON WHEN HE WAS ATTENDING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. SHE ALSO REMEMBERS
IT BEING REPEATED BY A CUB SCOUT WHILE SHE WAS DEN MOTHER ABOUT
1956.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; UTENSILS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): ROOMFUL?

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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Q: HIGH IT FLIES/ LOW IT FLIES/ YET HAS NO WINGS/ ON WHICH TO RISE.
A: SMOKE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; PRIVATIONAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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RIDDLE IN VERSE

I RIPPLE AND DRIP,/ I'M GREEN OR I'M BLUE/ I'M WILD OR I'M TAME/
BUT I AM NEEDED BY YOU.
A: WATER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18410 BIRCHCREST

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; STATES OF BEING (Q) COLOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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WHO AM I? RIDDLE

Q: I SQUEEZE/ THROUGH THE TINIEST CRACK./ I RACE/ LIKE A TRAIN ON
A TRACK./ I WHISTLE AND ROAR/ AND RATTLE THE DOOR./ AND AS SOON AS
I GO/ I AM BACK./ WHO AM I?
A: THE WIND.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC.
FROM: "LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO: THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951) THE PAGES ARE
NOT NUMBERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; NATURAL ; TRANSPORTATION (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: YOU CAN NOT SEE IT,/ BUT YOU KNOW IT IS THERE/ YOU CAN SEE WHAT
IT DOES/ TO YOUR HAT/ TO YOUR HAIR./ WHAT IS IT?
A: THE WIND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CLOTHES (Q) ; NATURAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: VERY NICE, VERY NEAT -/ HAS TEETH, CANNOT EAT.
A: A COMB

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NOTION ITEMS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ASSONANCE ; REPETITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 09-29-1967

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RIDDLE IN VERSE

Q: I'VE MANY TEETH BUT I DON'T BITE/ IN FACT, I KEEP YOU LOOKING
RIGHT.
A: A COMB

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18410 BIRCHCREST

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NOTION ITEMS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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RIDDLE IN VERSE

Q: I HAVE ONE PERFECT EYE/ BUT STILL I CANNOT SEE/ AND YET THAT ONE
GOOD EYE/ IS USEFUL AS CAN BE.
A: A NEEDLE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18410 BIRCHCREST

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NOTION ITEMS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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RIDDLE VERSE

Q: OLD MOTHER TWITCHETT HAD BUT ONE EYE, / AND A LONG TAIL WHICH
SHE LET FLY;/ AND EVERY TIME SHE WENT THROUGH A GAP,/ A BIT OF HER
TAIL SHE LEFT IN A TRAP.
A: A NEEDLE

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): LONG TAIL= THREAD

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 11-12-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY TO ST. IVES/ I MET A MAN WITH SEVEN WIVES/
EACH WIFE HAD SEVEN BAGS/ EACH BAG HAD SEVEN CATS/ EACH CAT HAD
SEVEN KITTENS/ WIVES, BAGS, CATS AND KITTENS/ HOW MANY WERE GOING
TO ST. IVES?
A: ONE.

Data entry tech comment: TWO VARIANTS IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMALS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEM (Q) ; NUMBERS ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400

Date learned: 11-18-1970

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RIDDLE

Q: AS ROUND AS AN APPLE,/ AS DEEP AS A CUP,/ AND ALL THE KING'S
HORSES/ CAN'T PULL IT UP.
A: A WELL.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; PARTICULAR ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: THIRTY WHITE HORSES/ UPON A RED HILL./ NOW THEY STAMP,/ NOW THEY
CHAMP,/ NOW THEY STAND STILL.
A: TEETH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREAS (Q) ; PARTS OF THE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

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RIDDLE

Q: BROTHERS AND SISTERS / I HAVE NONE,/ BUT THAT MAN'S FATHER/ IS MY
FATHER'S SON.
A: ME.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.

Data entry tech comment: 8 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LITERAL ; PERSONS (A) ; PERSONS (Q) ; PUZZLE QUESTION

James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 00001967 FALL

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CLERGY RIDDLE

Q: TELL ME IF YOU CAN/ WHO IS THE HIGHLY FAVORED MAN/ THAT HAS
MARRIED MANY A WIFE/ BUT IS SINGLE ALL HIS LIFE.
A: A PRIEST.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; PERSONS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: ROUND AS A MOON,/ BLACK AS A COON,/ AND IT HAS A HANDLE -/ WHAT
IS IT?
A: A FRYING PAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMALS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; UTENSILS (A)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 11-10-1968

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: THOUGH GOOD FELLOWS WE ARE/ WE CAN'T HOPE TO BE SAVED; / FROM OUR
VERY FIRST DAY/ TO OUR LAST WE'RE ENSLAVED./ OUR OFFICE IS HARDEST/
AND FOOD SURE THE WORST/ BEING CRAMMED WITH RAW FLESH/ TILL WE'RE
READY TO BURST./ THOUGH LOW IN OUR STATE/ EVEN KINGS WE SUPPORT/ AND
AT BALLS HAVE/ THE PRINCIPAL SHARE OF SPORT.
A: A PAIR OF SHOES.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS IS ONE RIDDLE SHE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION ON A SENIOR ENGLISH EXAM AT
DETROIT'S MILLER HIGH SCHOOL AROUND 1940.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; ENTERTAINMENT (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME INVERSION ; SYNTAX

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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RIDDLE

Q: THEY HAVE TONGUES, BUT THEY DO NOT TALK./ YOU TIE THEM UP WHEN
YOU GO FOR A WALK./ WHAT ARE THEY?
A: SHOES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CAUSAL ; CLOTHES (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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WHAT AM I? RIDDLE

Q: I HAVE NO FEET, AND WHEN I RUN,/ I USE MY HANDS INSTEAD./ MY
FACE IS ROUND, JUST LIKE THE SUN, / AND YET I HAVE NO HEAD.
A: A WATCH.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC.
FROM: "LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO: THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951)
THE PAGES ARE NOT NUMBERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GO WANDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY ; VARIANT

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PARODY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.700
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER -- FOR ANYTHING AROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY ; VARIANT

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PARODY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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