Shakeepuddn Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Happily halved by the one, ten and six to form Five hundred more upon a seat, unmoving moving charms. Unanswered riddles adorn the air, smoke comprises skin, Not of fire, smoke of stroke, posture free of sin. Merchants mate of unknown fate, hands proclaiming rank— Right on port, of fault bereft, pillars at the flank. Lain upon hard-wood deck, essence but a stain, Pirated by patriot, the loss a nation's pain. The world beyond is but a myth, one we cannot live in, Intended as a mother’s mirror . . . A birthday gift un-given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Happily halved by the one, ten and six to form Five hundred more upon a seat, unmoving moving charms. Unanswered riddles adorn the air, smoke comprises skin, Not of fire, smoke of stroke, posture free of sin. Merchants mate of unknown fate, hands proclaiming rank— Right on port, of fault bereft, pillars at the flank. Lain upon hard-wood deck, essence but a stain, Pirated by patriot, the loss a nation's pain. The world beyond is but a myth, one we cannot live in, Intended as a mother’s mirror . . . A birthday gift un-given. Sorry for so many guesses. I have alot of time to spare at work and I really want to try to figure this out. Perhaps it is the black knight in chess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 then I thought of the maiden at the front of a ship. They usually are in the prayer pose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Did you write this riddle yourself? It's very good. I'm dying to know the answer! Thanks. Yeah, I write all myself. keep trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Graven, No. Not another poem. Un-given means never given (hyphen because I hate red lines under my words ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Diddyuww: No. Nice guess. IDoNotExist: No, nothing to do with h - - - es. Solve this baby any way you like. Up to you. Crazypainter: No and No. I imagine you'll figure this out soon, as you're apparently good at this. Oxymoron = Intransitive / transitive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 poker or some other card game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 poker or some other card game. Nope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Hmm.ten and six to form obviously means sixteen years to make, and 500 more upon a seat could mean that's how long it's been around? The only Oxymoron in the Riddle is "unmoving moving" charms, so first is intransitive verb and second means to move "something," correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Hmm.ten and six to form obviously means sixteen years to make, and 500 more upon a seat could mean that's how long it's been around? The only Oxymoron in the Riddle is "unmoving moving" charms, so first is intransitive verb and second means to move "something," correct? Ahab, yes on all. You're on the right track. To all, I will be leaving town for a week for Lunar New Year Holiday and out of communication. I will leave you with . . . To end the game you must set sail to My Lady first and find a name. Good luck! P.S. Thanks to whomever for the ratings. Bye! Edited January 23, 2009 by Shakeepuddn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Is it the Sistine Chapel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Smoke of stroke (not fire) - stroke of a paintbrush? "Smoke" = paint to make the skin. Perhaps a smokey cast to the painting? Mother's mirror - a portrait painting then (a painting of a woman) I think the answer is the Mona Lisa 1) It was painted in the 16th century, and also took 16 years to paint ("ten and six to form") 2) It is a half-length portrait ("happily halved") 3) She is sitting ("uppon a seat") 4) Named for Lisa del Giocondo, to celebrate the birth of her son ("A birthday gift", "mother's mirror") 5) She is traditionally believed to be the one who sat for the portrait 6) Smokey colors and shading techniques ("smoke of stroke") 7) It is approximately 500 years old ("500 more upon a seat") 8) She is described as moving and charming, yet she herself does not move ("unmoving moving charms") 9) The landscape is imaginary ("the world beyond is but a myth... " etc) 10) Da Vinci was never paid for his work and never delivered it to those who commissioned it ("gift un-given") 11) The painting was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia stole it in 1911. He was an Italian patriot ("pirated by patriot") 12) It has undergone much restoration, including to the original frame ("hard-wood deck") and the varnish ("essence but a stain" ?) "Of fault bereft" could also refer to the restoration, and "pillars at the flank" could refer to braces added to the rear of the frame to stabilize a crack. Also to go with your clue from earlier about "My Lady", "Mona" is a shortening of "Madonna", from Italian ma donna meaning "my lady" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Smoke of stroke (not fire) - stroke of a paintbrush? "Smoke" = paint to make the skin. Perhaps a smokey cast to the painting? Mother's mirror - a portrait painting then (a painting of a woman) I think the answer is the Mona Lisa 1) It was painted in the 16th century, and also took 16 years to paint ("ten and six to form") 2) It is a half-length portrait ("happily halved") 3) She is sitting ("uppon a seat") 4) Named for Lisa del Giocondo, to celebrate the birth of her son ("A birthday gift", "mother's mirror") 5) She is traditionally believed to be the one who sat for the portrait 6) Smokey colors and shading techniques ("smoke of stroke") 7) It is approximately 500 years old ("500 more upon a seat") 8) She is described as moving and charming, yet she herself does not move ("unmoving moving charms") 9) The landscape is imaginary ("the world beyond is but a myth... " etc) 10) Da Vinci was never paid for his work and never delivered it to those who commissioned it ("gift un-given") 11) The painting was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia stole it in 1911. He was an Italian patriot ("pirated by patriot") 12) It has undergone much restoration, including to the original frame ("hard-wood deck") and the varnish ("essence but a stain" ?) "Of fault bereft" could also refer to the restoration, and "pillars at the flank" could refer to braces added to the rear of the frame to stabilize a crack. Also to go with your clue from earlier about "My Lady", "Mona" is a shortening of "Madonna", from Italian ma donna meaning "my lady" I'd have to say that either you're correct, or you found an alternate answer. Well done. I'm still almost sure I've heard some of these themes together under another context. It will pop into my head sooner or later. Once again, excellent riddle Shakee. I agree this may be your best to date. And thank you for the spelling correction. I was shocked by my own ignorance! <_< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) edit: deleted double post Edited January 23, 2009 by Grayven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Dwilly, well done! "Unanswered riddle adorns the air" (the ever enigmatic smile adorns her air/persona) "Smoke of stroke" (good call on this. Da Vinci pioneered the method of painting with multi-layered strokes of different shades called "sfumato" to paint her hair and skin. Literally translated as "smoke." Her posture (free of sin) and hand pose (right over left/port) is to indicate both social rank and status as a virtuous and faithful wife. The painting is oil (stain) on hard poplar panal (hard wood deck). The pillars able to be seen in the painting on either side of her (flank) are for a loggia of some sort. Everything else you nailed right on time. Oustanding, and thanks for playing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Shakeepuddn Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) Merchant's mate: Lisa Gioconda was married to a silk merchant. In the clue: set sail to My Lady first: SAIL is anagram for Lisa, and Dwilly is correct, Mona is Italian short for Madonna or "My Lady." Edited January 31, 2009 by Shakeepuddn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
Shakeepuddn
Happily halved by the one, ten and six to form
Five hundred more upon a seat, unmoving moving charms.
Unanswered riddles adorn the air, smoke comprises skin,
Not of fire, smoke of stroke, posture free of sin.
Merchants mate of unknown fate, hands proclaiming rank—
Right on port, of fault bereft, pillars at the flank.
Lain upon hard-wood deck, essence but a stain,
Pirated by patriot, the loss a nation's pain.
The world beyond is but a myth, one we cannot live in,
Intended as a mother’s mirror . . .
A birthday gift un-given.
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