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They put pictures on me
then take pictures of me
to share with the world

But the pictures disappear
as my end draws near
and anxious heartbeats stilled

I am sought after very wide
especially after every night
when things are put in motion

And after a little while
I will be able to defile
your ability to sleep with devotion

What am I?

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  • $\begingroup$ I am little afraid after reading last stanza.....I love my sleep, +1 nice riddle $\endgroup$
    – smriti
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 6:31
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    $\begingroup$ Definitely +1, I like how that little poem doesn't feel too "forced" to fit in the hints but actually sounds very smooth $\endgroup$
    – Barkas
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 8:04
  • $\begingroup$ I dislike the “anxious heartbeats stilled” line. (1) It’s easily interpreted as morbid.  (2) I don’t see how it fits the accepted answer.  When (that answer) is finished, it’s more likely to cause heartbeats to be accelerated and amplified. $\endgroup$
    – Peregrine Rook
    Commented Aug 25, 2016 at 22:38
  • $\begingroup$ The explanation by the accepted answer is not what I had meant by that line, but was close enough that I accepted and did not say anything about it. What I meant by it was that many people drink coffee or cappuccino to relax (this is way before caffeine causes your heartbeat and energy to rise, but I am relating here to the recreational act of sipping a warm beverage after a hard day's work or on a rainy day). Hope this makes more sense $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Commented Aug 26, 2016 at 8:14
  • $\begingroup$ I realize that it can be easily interpreted as morbid, but the "stilled" here refers to "calm", not "stopped", as in "still" waters $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Commented Aug 26, 2016 at 8:22

3 Answers 3

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You are

A Cappuccino

They put pictures on me
then take pictures of me
to share with the world

Baristas create quite fancy artwork on the milk foam on top of your cup. Many people take pictures of that and post it on Instagram, Facebook etc.

But the pictures disappear
as my end draws near
and anxious heartbeats stilled

When the cup is empty, the milk is gone. "Anxious hearbeats stilled" refers to the addiction some people have towards coffee.

I am sought after very wide
especially after every night
when things are put in motion

Many people drink coffee, especially in the morning (in Italy, you drink Cappuccino only in the morning, in the afternoon you would go for an Espresso). Coffee puts you in motion.

And after a little while
I will be able to defile
your ability to sleep with devotion

Well, coffee can keep you from sleeping, after all that's why most people need it in the morning.

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5
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling! Nice try for a first answer :) $\endgroup$
    – IAmInPLS
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 7:32
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, and also thanks for formatting the above a bit nicer ;) $\endgroup$
    – Barkas
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 8:02
  • $\begingroup$ Well done, you got the answer quicker than I hoped :) What gave it away? $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 20:45
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    $\begingroup$ The first three lines. Taking pictures of sth. and "sharing" them reminded me of countless "food photographers" I know ;) then the last three lines somehow made the connection with coffee. Really nice riddle though! $\endgroup$
    – Barkas
    Commented Aug 25, 2016 at 6:51
  • $\begingroup$ Yes I thought the sleep bit would be a dead give-away; caffeine is one of the first things people think of when trying to stay awake or not being able to sleep (generally) $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Commented Aug 26, 2016 at 8:19
5
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You are:

A television

They put pictures on me
then take pictures of me
to share with the world

You put "moving pictures" on a television. Some people might take a picture of their new TV to share online with their friends.

But the pictures disappear
as my end draws near
and anxious heartbeats stilled

After a person finishes watching TV, they power it off, causing the pictures to disappear. "Anxious heartbeats" could refer to the thrill that comes from an episode of a show that ends on a cliffhanger -- as you turn off the TV and move on with your day, you think about the show less, thus "stilling" your heartbeats.

I am sought after very wide
especially after every night
when things are put in motion

Modern TV's are built with a wide aspect ratio. A person who is really into a TV show will want to sit down and watch more every night as the plot of their show picks up.

And after a little while
I will be able to defile
your ability to sleep with devotion

As a person gets really caught up in their show, they may become "glued to the TV", giving up sleep in exchange for more time binge-watching their programs.

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2
  • $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling! Good answer, +1 $\endgroup$
    – Beastly Gerbil
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 20:18
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    $\begingroup$ Hmm, I'll say this answer fits, but only because you really stretched some of the parameters. The correct answer was given by Michael Preischl :) $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 20:46
0
$\begingroup$

It's

a mobile as people put pictures on it and take pictures of it.

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    $\begingroup$ How does this fit the rest of the clues? $\endgroup$
    – Mithical
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 12:07
  • $\begingroup$ I'm so out of touch with fads and fashion.  Do people actually take pictures of these things?  Or are they just, inevitable but incidentally, included in photographs? $\endgroup$
    – Peregrine Rook
    Commented Aug 25, 2016 at 22:31
  • $\begingroup$ You know, strangely enough, it is VERY popular on photo-sharing sites such as Instagram, where the cappuccino is the focus of the photo, especially with nice patterns or creative pictures $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Commented Aug 26, 2016 at 8:18

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