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Let me tell you 'bout a friend
from the age of ancient runes.
If you ever hear his name
you may think of songs and tunes.

Though he lives in many places
— throughout Europe he is found —
it's the land of Montenegro
where, enlarged, he's most renowned.

When he visits Irish lands,
he's the same as what he owns,
but the rest of his belongings
is among the ores and stones.

He begins to turn his head
When a cat gives out a shout.
You must tell me my friend's name,
and explain how you found out.

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Does this friend move all over Europe or is he in multiple places simultaniously? $\endgroup$
    – RnRoger
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 0:12
  • $\begingroup$ @rnroger, simultaneously, and in many other places too. $\endgroup$
    – J. Siebeneichler
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 0:24
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    $\begingroup$ Would the knowledge tag be applicable here? $\endgroup$
    – votbear
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 3:56
  • $\begingroup$ @VotBear, I honestly don't know. $\endgroup$
    – J. Siebeneichler
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 15:10

1 Answer 1

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I think your friend might be

Me

Let me tell you 'bout a friend from the age of ancient runes.

Possibly a reference to μ (which can be pronounced as 'me') or め or メ.
Also, a rune on the baptismal font in the church of Bridekirk (credit to the OP)

If you ever hear his name you may think of songs and tunes.

"Do Re Mi Fa So" (sounds like me)

Though he lives in many places — throughout Europe he is found —

I think the word 'me' pops up in several European languages including French and Spanish.

it's the land of Montenegro where, enlarged, he's most renowned.

ME is the ISO 3166 code for Montenegro

When he visits Irish lands, he's the same as what he owns,

I think this is a reference to the way an Irish person sometimes uses 'me' instead of 'my' e.g, "Where's me jumper?"

but the rest of his belongings is among the ores and stones.

His belongings are mine, which is also a type of excavation in the earth. (thank you Rand al'Thor)

He begins to turn his head

The head of Me is M, which is W when turned.

When a cat gives out a shout.

Me + w = Mew.

NB The original intention of these two lines is that the beginning of "Meow" is "Me" which makes the subject of the puzzle turn his head. (credit to the OP)

You must tell me my friend's name, and explain how you found out.

Improve this answer
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2
  • $\begingroup$ "but the rest of his belongings is among the ores and stones." - MINE? $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 11:05
  • $\begingroup$ Good job. The cat line refers to "meow", which, at first, sounds like someone is calling his name. The ancient runes line was chosen for the rhyme, but I made sure that the word me is indeed attested in some form of runic script (the baptismal font in the church of Bridekirk). $\endgroup$
    – J. Siebeneichler
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 11:13

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