The Riddle

A traveler is momentarily entrapped by a Filipino mythical creature who loves to confuse.

The Riddle

While walking through the woods was when
I came upon the creature then

Tikbalang was its standard name
But “Nightmare” would have worked the same

Without delay I felt his pull
Confusion in my head at full

A question had begun to form
Into a raging, thund’ring storm

Haphazardly, I felt around
Inside my brain but had not found

The answer to the riddle asked
My freedom a response could cast

And as my desperation grew
Tikbalang thought he’d won his coup

But from the depths of my recall
I gave my answer, betting all

The creature writhed in agony
Invincible, he thought was he

He vanished in a plume of smoke
And from the haze I lastly broke

Triumphant, I escaped the trap
That had subdued many a chap

But on my laurels, I won’t rest
Lest I befall another test.

Written for Writers Cramp prompt for April 21, 2026 to write a Cyhydedd Fer poem entitled “The Riddle” | 24 Lines