A Weak Little Riddle

[Shakeepuddn]

I'm very thin . . . a weak, little thing,

The strength I can wield would subdue a king.

I'm rather large and very small,

Upon my throne I'm oh so tall!

I carry few, I can carry many,

A fortune for some, and less than a penny.

I was a mother who bore three brave

Then spit them out upon the wave.

Dressed in black for a Painless demise,

But just a ruse for laughing eyes.

Water has saved me, with water I die,

Down to the bottom, but boy, can I fly!

[Wilson]

9 hours ago, Shakeepuddn said:

No.

Why are pentobarbs called "yellow jackets?"  Hint: it has nothing to do with insects.

Nembutal

Yellow capsules

Street name Yellow Jackets

[Shakeepuddn]

Do you have an answer to the riddle?

[Wilson]

You’ve got me all over the place with this one. Don’t think that I’m 100%….but I’ll go with

(SUB)TITLE?

[Shakeepuddn]

No. I apologize for leading you astray while trying to guide you to the answer. This thing has been up too long. The answer is in your response to the yellow jacket question. Google "Who is Painless" if you want and you should find the solution.

[Wilson]

If I’ve eventually found it (?) , then your ending is in keeping with the theme :-)

[Shakeepuddn]

I've yet to see the answer on this one. I had no idea it would be so elusive.

[Molly Mae]

Capsule (the dichotomy being the space capsule and a medicinal capsule).

Edited April 27, 2022 by Molly Mae

[Shakeepuddn]

Yay! CLOSURE! Thanks Molly. Curious . . . On hindsight, does it look that difficult?

[Molly Mae]

14 hours ago, Shakeepuddn said:

Yay! CLOSURE! Thanks Molly. Curious . . . On hindsight, does it look that difficult?

Not particularly.  I got hung up on Ace for quite awhile (the card + a pilot).

"spit them out upon the wave" and the MASH reference really stumped me, as well. 

It definitely passes the decalogue, and I think the answer is obvious in hindsight.