16
$\begingroup$

I strike out at many a sphere

I sing a song you'll never hear

I fill many fragile hearts with fear

I'm small of eye and large of ear

What am I?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
19
$\begingroup$

I think you may be a

bat

I strike out at many a sphere

Bats are used for many ball games like cricket and tennis

I sing a song you'll never hear

Bats make calls to echolocate at a frequency too high for humans to hear naturally

I fill many fragile hearts with fear

Fear of bats is chiroptophobia. Thanks to Mike Limburg for this!

I'm small of eye and large of ear

Bats - the flying mammals - have small eyes and large ears

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Ahh Tom, you were just a minute ahead of me ;) $\endgroup$
    – Mike Limburg
    Feb 27 '17 at 9:46
8
$\begingroup$

This is probably a long shot and incorrect, but I'm thinking

A large radio telescope observatory, like Arecibo

I strike out at many a sphere

Broadcasting messages to stars and planets in hopes of extraterrestrial contact

I sing a song you'll never hear

Broadcasts are inaudible to the human ear

I fill many fragile hearts with fear

Conspiracy theorists? Or people wary of extraterrestrial life in general

I'm small of eye and large of ear

Small observatory, but large listening array which can 'hear' a very large range of signals from space.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Nope. Not even close. Love it though. +1 $\endgroup$
    – Brent Hackers
    Feb 27 '17 at 9:46
7
$\begingroup$

Are you...

A bat?

I strike out at many a sphere

Striking out is a term in baseball, using "a bat" to hit the ball;

I sing a song you'll never hear

We humans do not see you very often, so we will never hear you sing (can you even sing?);

I fill many fragile hearts with fear

There is actually a fear for you: chiroptophobia.

I'm small of eye and large of ear

Literally small-eyed and large-eared

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Yep. Good explanations too. Tom just beat you to it though. $\endgroup$
    – Brent Hackers
    Feb 27 '17 at 9:47
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I like the chiroptophobia explanation! $\endgroup$
    – Tom
    Feb 27 '17 at 9:49
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks Mike for this - I added your precise description (to mine)!. $\endgroup$
    – Tom
    Feb 27 '17 at 9:57
  • $\begingroup$ You're more than welcome ;) $\endgroup$
    – Mike Limburg
    Feb 27 '17 at 9:58
4
$\begingroup$

You are

Corn

I strike out at many a sphere

Consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup is linked to testicular cancer which afflicts the balls (spheres)

I sing a song you'll never hear

As the corn grows, it makes a noise that is too inaudible for the human ear to detect

I fill many fragile hearts with fear

A diet high in high fructose corn syrup causes obesity, diabetes, and heart failure.

I'm small of eye and large of ear

Corn is known to come in ears and is the only crop that hosts eye spot, a disease that causes small eye-like dots on the leaves.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Lol I love this take on it $\endgroup$
    – n_plum
    Feb 28 '17 at 19:05
  • $\begingroup$ This answer is a dangerous mix of randomocity and devious, cleverness. Big shiny +1 for you. $\endgroup$
    – Brent Hackers
    Mar 1 '17 at 8:28

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

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