Ok this is bugging me and I can\'t find the answer on \'nternet.
Poem by Gerard Benson called \'Riddle\' which is currently plastered all over the Underground:
I was the cause of great troubles, yet, resting amongst leaves, I did nothing wrong.
After much waiting I was taken in hand, passed from one to another.
Broken I moved beyond sharp barriers and was cradled in wetness, mashed to pulp.
Soon I entered a dark tunnel where bathed in acids I altered my being.
But what I entered I also altered, bringing light where there had been darkness.
I brought strife where there had been peace, pain where there had been comfort.
My journey ended in the place of corruption but by then I had changed the world.
Any ideas? I thought maybe apples - alcohol?
writing material
Ahh - you could be right. What\'s the dark tunnel and bathed in acids bit about?
I\'d say paper money.
Shaun
Being passed to Greedy bankers !
Shaun
At a guess "dark tunnel" might indicate ink being put into cartridges or a biro instead of an ink well.:2Confused
Not sure about the bathing in acids bit:eek:
Quote from: shaunwil;738545Being passed to Greedy bankers !
Yeah yeah! :Nono!
It was written in 1931 so may have been a different printing process then - definately not done like that today, at least I haven\'t seen any dark tunnels at DeLaRue.
True, just a thought. Although when was the great depression ?
Photos are developed in acid !
Shaun
35mm film comes in a black tube ???
Shaun
Mar 26th - Iraq & Trans-Jordan sign peace treaty
Possibly ??
I think it is some form of paper as the first few lines fit - but not sure exactly what.
I was almost right:Laugh
I believe after reading this that it is about the written word:Thumbs-up
Poems on the Underground celebrates 25th anniversary with a new set of poems
07 January 2011
Poems on the Underground have been delighting customers on the Tube for a quarter of a century.
After 25 years it\'s amazing to think that such a simple concept is still going strong Judith Chernaik
Judith Chernaik, the brainchild behind the idea of displaying poems in Tube carriages, continues to choose the verses with her colleagues that travellers see today.
To mark this special birthday a new set of poems, which includes a verse inspired by Mozart, will appear on the network in January.
The latest collection of poems is about the value of the written word, from the earliest times to the present.
I still recon it\'s something specfic - \'My journey ended in the place of corruption but by then I had changed the world\' implies that it is no more?
Just thought - it\'s not something like the Bible is it?
Food (possibly some sort of fruit off a tree)? (Sharp barriers - teeth, Acids - stomach, Dark tunnel - digestive tract) etc...
Some cunning stuff :D
Shaun
Cheese, it must be cheese.
more :
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/projectsandschemes/artmusicdesign/poems/
Shaun
Cocoa Leaf?
Quote from: JohnnyP;739440Cocoa Leaf?
That so works ;)
I just got the following email
Quote from: Hello Ann,
Somebody told me about your search for meaning in my riddle currently riding the rails and I\'ve accessed your site.
I\'ve been fascinated by the various interpretations. My own daughter thought at first it was something to do with paper, then deserted that idea in favour of alcohol (as the solution to the riddle).
Curiously the wrong interpretations are all cognate with my intended solution. I\'m so glad I resisted the suggestion that PoU should print the answer in small print upsidedown.
Two of you are on the right track. You, with your realisation that it is a one-off and in the past, rather than a generality and still around. And the Prof with his recognition of the digestive process.
I think that\'s enough of a hint to lead you to the "correct" answer.
(On another website they have decided, after toying with paper, the bible &c, in favour of the sperm-dash, the process of conception. Amazing! And so illuminating.
With all good wishes, Gerard Benson
How nice - I\'ve replied and thanked him.
So that should help - I\'ll sleep on it.
Mushrooms / Funghi ???
coca leaf ????
On the right tracks but he says I was right that:
Quote from: it is a one-off and in the past, rather than a generality and still around
So what used to be eaten / digested that isn\'t around anymore - something specific? :xconfused
Quote from: AMH;739761On the right tracks but he says I was right that:
So what used to be eaten / digested that isn\'t around anymore - something specific? :xconfused
A Dodo?????????
Long Pig ?
Quote from: AMH;739761So what used to be eaten / digested that isn\'t around anymore - something specific? :xconfused
My ex-girlfriends carrot cake. Seriously, it was horrible, and I\'d never eat it again.
Its great to get some recognition of the discussion from the person running the campaign.
I mentioned when is the great depression. Wall Street Crashed in 1929 ? Possibly ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929
Shaun
I saw this on the tube this morning (District line) but couldn\'t get it. I was happy to find a forum discussion and clues rather than the solution when I looked it up.
I think it may be the forbidden fruit in The Garden of Eden. In the biblical passage Eve passes this to Adam (from one hand to another), it then enters their digestive systems, which results in change in the world. I can\'t think what light where there had been darkness refers to though - if this is meant to be literal?
Hmmmm...I only read page 1 of this....apple from eden was my guess too....but then I\'m usually wrong!!
Darkness into light would be when their eyes are supposed to be opened by eating the apple....but that\'s just my vague memory of the story.
Welcome to MRC AkyIfoe! :wave
I think you guys might be right about the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.