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Home Poetry Culture

A Riddle by Connie Phillips

May 8, 2019
in Culture, Humor, Poetry, Riddles
A A
8

Riddle No. 1

So astounding is this part—
A major muscle, like your heart.
And so astonishing its job,
Without it you would be a blob:
You couldn’t stand or lift or bend—
You’d be a pretzel in the end.
A couch potato you would be
For life, if you don’t set it free
With squats and stretches, lunges, presses—
Exercise that leaves you breathless.
Iliacus is next door,
And they both help support your core.

So, as I know you’re sure to guess,
I’ll give no hints under duress.
Just ask me what its name might be,
And I’ll reply, “It’s Greek to me!”

 

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Post your answers to the riddle in the comments section below.

 

Connie Phillips is a former English teacher and editor living in Massachusetts.

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Comments 8

  1. Horus H says:
    6 years ago

    Psoas major

    Reply
    • connie phillips says:
      6 years ago

      Horus, you’re spot on! It’s the psoas (a.k.a. hip flexor).
      Thanks for responding 🙂

      Reply
      • Horus H says:
        6 years ago

        Thanks for the riddle, Connie! That last line was a nice touch.

        Reply
  2. Horus H says:
    6 years ago

    Hip flexors or glutes

    Reply
  3. Alex Andy Phuong says:
    6 years ago

    The brain.

    Reply
    • connie phillips says:
      6 years ago

      That’s a good answer, Alex, as we would indeed be nothing without a brain or heart. But I had in mind the psoas muscles or the hip flexors, which are key to the body’s movement. Thanks very much for your response–I appreciate it.

      Reply
  4. C.B. Anderson says:
    6 years ago

    Poor me. After reading this, I thought “spine.” And that just shows that I’ve got none.

    Reply
    • Connie phillips says:
      6 years ago

      Haha! Thanks for your comment, C.B.!

      Reply

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