Who am I?

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 04 Oct 2025
  • 502 reads
11 comments
 

My first is in ‘timid’, but that I’m not.
My second’s in ‘fierce’ –, that’s better, but what
of my third and fourth in ‘gentle’– not me!
but my last is again in ‘fierce’ you’ll see.

My whole, said Blake*, was made so grand
by a skilful immortal eye and hand.
Though Blake had my second, dated now,
instead in my ‘beauty’, a fiery glow.

* William Blake

[IP:The Riddle.]

 

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

An enigma posed adriotly.

I don't know the answer but I'm sure someone will be along shortly to solve it.

Nicely done, Rhiannon. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Paul. But if you look up Blake's poems you should get the answer. I didn't put the link or it would have given it too easily! I think it is his most famous poem probably. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

thank you for the cherries! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

The letters hiding in the words like a stripey tiger?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Well done! It was the descriptions more than the letter clues that I hoped would lead to it in a fun way! Middle of the night thoughts! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Sorry, I failed to see the connection. My brain is abit fogged, but well done on your interpretation.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks. It isn't easy to see how it will come across to a reader when you make up any puzzle, is it? I had thought to give the link to the poem by Blake, but the link address would have included the word anyway! rhiannon

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Nolan &

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, that's the other part of the poem that is so well known isn't it? It reminds that when first created there probably wouldn't have been so much trouble even amongst the animals, as the picture of the perfect heavenly kingdom in Isaiah 11:6-8

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Nolan on

By the way in the original William Blake he writes "Tyger" not as in your " i " !

Also I believe "hand or eye" he would probably have rymed in some way with fearful "symmetry" you know languanges are always in a process of changing and evolving. And this was a while ago too.

All the best! Good to see some classics & Nolan

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Hi, that is what I tried to deal with in the last two lines, 

Though Blake had my second (ie second letter), dated now,
instead in my ‘beauty’, a fiery glow.

ie that he had the second letter as 'y' not 'i', so in 'beauty' not in 'fierce'! Rn