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This is a poem with a wandering scheme about a potentially deadly force. Can you answer the questions posed?

[REDACTED] is powerful, reliant, and tall
He performs every day for the plesaure of all
He towers above the gawkers below
Who've come to enjoy his regular show
We've found now, in fact, routine is rather
Bimodal in form meaning you sometimes gather
For sixty or ninety minutes before
He starts up his act lasting one minute four
At the most but sometimes it's short
Ninety seconds - abort

He's not safe to get near though he means no harm
His own strength betrays him - he carries no arms
His father was Washburn who named him quite aptly
Although his performance is not quite the acme
His brother wins that title though he was named first
Not jealous a bit, though, as both quench the thirst
Of travelers seeking adventure and grandeur
Ironic a bit, given permanent tenure
He's a prisoner, see, and can never leave
But cry not for him. As a nation we've
Formed quite a home surrounding all sides
Of this giant whose entertainment provides
Joy for all the visitors who
Have come here again to view
The wonders provided
And all, breath bated,
Await the show
Do you know
the right
site?

ANSWER NOW, FOOL, 'FORE HIS ANGER EXPLODES
AND UNLEASHES POWER HE'S STORED DOWN BELOW
HIS ENERGY'S GREAT AND POTENTIAL MIGHTY
HE'S TRAPPED HERE FOREVER HANDING OUT DEATHBLOWS
IF YOU WANDER TOO CLOSE YOUR FLESH SHALL BE RENDERED
FROM MORTAL COIL SO SOFT AND SO TENDER
FEAR HIM, YOU MORTAL, LEST YOUR CASUAL STRAYING
RELINQUISH YOUR SOUL TO HIS BEASTLY BLENDER
TELL ME HIS NAME AND THE NAME OF HIS HOME.
WHY IS HE TRAPPED AND CAN NEVER ROAM?
TELL ME THIS QUICKLY OR YOUR SOUL I SHALL HARVEST
AND BURY WITHIN THE BEAST'S CATACOMB

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  • $\begingroup$ After the first verse I was sure it was going to be a clock (the "act" being chiming). I tried to search for a famous clockmaker named Washburn, couldn't find one, and gave up. $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Jun 24, 2015 at 16:31

1 Answer 1

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The beast's name is

Old Faithful

The first paragraph basically explains that it's a

geyser

that "performs" at a regular interval. After that, it tells about Washburn naming it. Its "brother" is probably Steamboat, the largest one of its kind. There's a lot of stuff talking about heat and water, which are self evident once you know the answer.

To literally answer the questions posed:

  • Do you know the right site?

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States

  • WHY IS HE TRAPPED AND CAN NEVER ROAM?

Two possible answers. 1) It's a geyser. They don't really move. 2) According to Wikipedia, it "...is not connected to any other thermal features of the Upper Geyser Basin." So, it's isolated from other geysers, etc.

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  • $\begingroup$ So... Too many clues to last very long. I had fun writing it, though! Do you see any areas to improve? (That doesn't mean the same thing as making it harder, mind you.) $\endgroup$
    – Engineer Toast
    Jun 24, 2015 at 16:23
  • $\begingroup$ Oh I quite liked it really. The wording is nice. A bit easy, but that could also be because I'm familiar with it (it's just one of those things you learn about growing up in the US). I don't know if it would be for someone from elsewhere. There are a lot of clues pointing to the general thing, but Washburn gives the specifics away to anyone with internet access. $\endgroup$
    – Set Big O
    Jun 24, 2015 at 16:31
  • $\begingroup$ @EngineerToast General riddley advice: try not to make one clue that gives away the answer much more easily than any of the others (here, Washburn). Specific quibble: how can something last one minute four (64 seconds) at the most but sometimes be as short as 90 seconds? :-D $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Jun 24, 2015 at 16:33
  • $\begingroup$ @randal'thor Unless "one minute four" means five minutes (which is a bit odd). Wiki says the time is between 1.5-5 minutes. $\endgroup$
    – Set Big O
    Jun 24, 2015 at 16:38
  • $\begingroup$ @randal'thor The time bit was a bit forced to make the rhythm and rhyme work. Also, good advice on Washburn. I had hoped it would be a verification check and not a total giveaway. I'll consider dropping such specific items in the future. $\endgroup$
    – Engineer Toast
    Jun 24, 2015 at 16:56

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