7
$\begingroup$

They pick me Up
And Wonder
They call me Light

I have Brothers and Sisters
Close, so Close
Together we Serve
That from which we were Born

Ah, I am Free
Yet Fastened
And when I am Unfastened
I can no longer Fulfill
My Purpose

I am used for Travelling
But I am no Burden
I am through which It is done

What am I?

Hint:

tweet tweet's answer (and name, haha) are the closest thus far.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ i would say seat belt but the light bit doesnt fit $\endgroup$
    – Daedric
    Jan 28, 2016 at 13:37

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
4
$\begingroup$

Well if you're not a

wing

then you're a

feather.

Explanation is basically the same as my other answer (EDIT: which I'm locked out of, I've messed my account up). But it does fit better!

Nice riddle.

EDIT: fits better because

Everything about flight applies equally well to a wing as to a feather. But we say "light as a feather". Also, a feather has more "brothers and sisters" than a wing. And "detaching" is less gruesome!

EDIT (by question poster, adding this detail for clarity of other users):

They pick me Up
And Wonder
They call me Light

We pick feathers up, and wonder about them (children love picking them up). "As light as a feather"

I have Brothers and Sisters
Close, so Close
Together we Serve
That from which we were Born

There are lots of feathers, closely fitting together, on a bird's wing. They serve the bird from which they were born (biologically).

Ah, I am Free
Yet Fastened
And when I am Unfastened
I can no longer Fulfill
My Purpose

Feathers are free as the bird, but they are fastened to the bird. When they fall off, they can no longer serve the bird.

I am used for Travelling
But I am no Burden
I am through which It is done

Birds use the feathers for traveling, it is through which the bird travels. And they nearly weigh nothing.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ I'll accept your answer if you care to detail your explanation here, I'm sure the other users will want to see why this is the answer :p $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 29, 2016 at 7:02
  • $\begingroup$ Edited your answer so that the others can see why it was accepted. Well done :) you are also the first one who didn't think of it materialistically, but biologically. $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 29, 2016 at 7:21
3
$\begingroup$

You are

a wing.

Self-explanatory :-)

EDIT: Very well, explaining anyway!

They pick you up and Wonder, they call you light

a bird picks up its wings, they are light, and flight is something to wonder at...

You have close brothers and sisters, you serve that from which you were born

wings usually come in pairs (sometimes more than one pair, eg. insects) and birds are born with them

You are free

as a bird

Yet fastened and when you are unfastened

poor bird

You can no longer fulfill your purpose

poor, poor bird

You are used for travelling but

don't make me spell that out

You are no burden

whereas these spoilers are getting tiresome

You are through which it is done

and I'm done, whew.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I would suggest explaining it to make the answer complete, but I like the answer. $\endgroup$
    – Warlord 099
    Jan 28, 2016 at 22:11
  • $\begingroup$ No, it's really not self-explanatory. Generally answers without explanation are deleted. $\endgroup$
    – Deusovi ♦
    Jan 28, 2016 at 22:23
  • $\begingroup$ Very well, I edited in an explanation. The server tells me it needs to be peer reviewed though. $\endgroup$
    – tweet tweet
    Jan 28, 2016 at 22:28
  • $\begingroup$ This is, thus far, the closest answer. Close, so close!! $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 29, 2016 at 6:22
2
$\begingroup$

Seatbelt

They pick me up, call me light

You pick it up to buckle it. It is light as in weight.

Brothers and sisters...

The brothers and sisters are other seatbelts. They all serve the same purpose.

I am free...

A seatbelt is free to move around, it serves its purpose when fastened, and doesn't when not.

Used for traveling...

You wear seatbelts while traveling in cars/planes. No burden means you don't really feel it on you when wearing it.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ It does not explain "And Wonder", nor does it explain "I am through which It is done". Good guess though :p $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 28, 2016 at 14:22
2
$\begingroup$

My guess would be:

A Suitcase

They pick me Up, And Wonder, They call me Light

An empty suitcase. People expect suitcases to weigh a lot, but when they are empty they obviously dont.

I have Brothers and Sisters, Close, so Close,

There are a lot of suitcases around and when you're traveling there are usually multiple suitcases around. (traveling companions, airplane, bus etc)

Together we Serve, That from which we were Born

Suitcases were created for the sole purpose of transporting goods.

Ah, I am Free

Suitcases travel all over the world, which can be considered 'free'

Yet Fastened

An unlocked / Locked suitcase

And when I am Unfastened, I can no longer Fulfill my Purpose

An unlocked (open) suitcase can no longer hold any items and can no longer fulfill its purpose for which it was born.

I am used for Travelling

This one is pretty obvious

But I am no Burden

People find it convenient to have suitcases around since it allows them to bring more 'goods'.

I am through which It is done

Perhaps after a long travel when the suitcase is worn?

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ This is a good try, but not correct. I'm thinking of adding a hint $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 28, 2016 at 20:53
2
$\begingroup$

You are

a postage stamp.

They pick me Up
And Wonder

There are many wonderful stamp designs.

They call me Light

A stamp barely weighs anything.

I have Brothers and Sisters
Close, so Close
Together we Serve
That from which we were Born

Stamps can have different denominations. You can affix multiple stamps to an envelope and add up their values to pay for the postage.

Ah, I am Free
Yet Fastened
And when I am Unfastened
I can no longer Fulfill
My Purpose

A stamp is not affixed to anything when purchased. It has to be adhered to an envelope or a mail package to fulfill its purpose.

I am used for Travelling
But I am no Burden
I am through which It is done

Stamps are used to pay for the cost to mail something to somewhere. Without them nothing can be shipped.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Good guess! But tweet tweet's answer is the closest one by far, try thinking in his direction! $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 29, 2016 at 6:23
1
$\begingroup$

What am I?

Headlight

They pick me Up And Wonder They call me Light

Light source, can't connect they pick me up part but may be; there are some headlights which can open/close

I have Brothers and Sisters Close, so Close Together we Serve That from which we were Born

Fog lamp, brake light, etc.

Ah, I am Free Yet Fastened And when I am Unfastened I can no longer Fulfill My Purpose

it is outside of the car so it is free, but it is attached to it so can't work if you remove its connections

I am used for Travelling But I am no Burden I am through which It is done

it is in front of the vehicle, and it can't be a burden because of the low weight

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately not, though one of your reasonings is heading in the right direction...I'm not going to say which one though, as it is the key to the whole riddle $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 28, 2016 at 14:19
  • $\begingroup$ @nine9 another alternative in my mind is a lantern. if it is true i will add it to my answer, otherwise I give up. good riddle indeed :) $\endgroup$
    – canova
    Jan 28, 2016 at 14:34
  • $\begingroup$ It's not true...but don't give up! The riddle is solvable with one of the lines alone, or well, nearly solvable :p $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 28, 2016 at 14:37
  • $\begingroup$ mining lamp? :D really not much coming to my mind. $\endgroup$
    – canova
    Jan 28, 2016 at 14:38
  • $\begingroup$ I'll swap you the answer of my riddle for the answer to your riddle :p $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 28, 2016 at 14:42
1
$\begingroup$

I think you are a

photon

your brothers and sisters are

electrons and protons

they call you light since

you are actually light

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ No, sorry, not the right answer :) $\endgroup$
    – nine9
    Jan 28, 2016 at 20:54

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.