solve learning riddles from appalachia

I’m sharing another riddle from “Way Down Yonder on Troublesome Creek Appalachian Riddles & Rusties” by James Still.

Pot belly,
One dark eye,
Poke its ribs,
Make it sigh.

—-

The last riddle I shared was from Blind Pig reader Larry DePuy:

Marble walls as white as milk, with a lining as soft as silk, within a fountain crystal clear a golden apple doth appear. There are no doors to this stronghold, but thieves break in to steal the gold.

What is it?

Most everyone got the answer: an egg.

Last night’s video: Dorie Woman of the Mountains 7.

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16 Comments

  1. Can’t think of anything other than pot-bellied stove. But it seems a poor description. Or maybe I just don’t know the features of one. Did they have a single “eye” on top? I think of those little spinner draft wheels that might be in a stove door as a sort-of eye. Can’t figure the “make it sigh” part though.

    Hope you all get a snow picture (through the window). Somebody might ought to save the weather forecast for the day for the sake of future anniversary memories.

  2. At first I thought of a pot belly stove. Obviously it has the pot belly and some had an eye on top. But, the ribs and the sigh escape me. I don’t know a lot about pot belly stoves and they may very well be the answer to the riddle. I’ve been around a lot of woodstoves but I don’t think I have seen a pot belly stove in operation.

  3. Is it to clean the great of the pot belly stove out in the morning , Stoke up the embers and get the fire going again!

  4. I also think it’s pot belly stove. I remember seeing ones that were small used just for heating. My uncle had one in his old country store. Congratulations once again to Austin and Corie on their big day today. Prayers and blessings to all of you!

  5. For your riddle I thought like others a pot bellied stove but it could also be that little dough guy:) I enjoyed your reading Dorie woman of the mountain.
    I woke up this morning to snow and now cold temperatures here in SC PA. I thought of Corie’s Wedding last night so I was praying all goes well for you all today. I’m sure the wedding will be beautiful!! God bless!

  6. Sounds like an excellent or pot belly stove to me!
    Praying for your family today! God bless you all for a happy wedding today!

  7. Gotta be an old wood stove or pot belly. Riddles are NOT my thing so I can only hope here. The egg riddle totally blew past me…

  8. Makes me think of one of those pot belly stoves. Other than a pig that’s the only pot belly I can think of. Well, one more pot belly might be my husband. LOL. Don’t tell him I said that.

    1. I agree. That’s what I thought when I read it. An eye on a pot belly stove.

      Need a wood stove today. Snow here in Franklin, n.c. Thought of y’all today,on Corie wedding. Maybe get one of granny’s shawls to wrap around our sweet bride.

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