As I was going to St. Ives
I met a man with seven wives
The seven wives had seven sacks
The seven sacks had seven cats
The seven cats had seven kits
Kits, cats, sacks and wives
How many were going to St. Ives?
One person is going to St. Ives (the narrator). Because the narrator "met" all of the others mentioned in the poem, this implies that they walked past each other in opposite directions, and thus none of the wives, sacks, cats, or kits was actually headed to St. Ives.
If you (like many) think this answer is a bit silly, you can assume that all the people, sacks, and animals mentioned were heading for St. Ives. In this case, we would have 1 narrator + 1 man + 7 wives + 49 sacks + 343 cats + 2401 kits = 2802 total going to St. Ives. However, this isn't the traditional answer.
I am slim and tall, many find me desirable and appealing,
they touch me and I give a false good feeling,
once I shine in splendor,
but only once and then no more, for many I am "to die for".
It can't be seen, can't be felt,
can't be heard and can't be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
and empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
ends life and kills laughter.
What is it?
With thieves I consort,
with the vilest, in short,
I'm quite at ease in depravity;
Yes all divines use me,
And savants can't lose me,
For I am the center of gravity.
Pronounced as one letter,
And written with three,
Two letters there are,
And two only in me.
I’m double, I’m single,
I’m black blue and gray,
I’m read from both ends,
And the same either way.
I may seem real yet I am not,
Once you're gone I'm often forgot.
Time here stretches and it shrinks,
It all depends on how you think.
I may be good, I may be bad,
I may be the same as one you've had.
What am I?
The front of me is the source of a song
Or to kiss with a fervor of love lifelong.
My back is a plant fit for a queen,
Crafted by needle, chemical, or machine.
Some people prefer them with raisins
Some like them to contain chocolate chips
Whichever kind of these you like though
They don't last long once they've passed your lips
What are they?
I am a home of knowledge, both banal and profound.
In grand halls and small homes I can be found.
I am a home for things of many leaves,
but my many residents are not living trees.
What am I?
A man while looking at a photograph said, "Brothers and sisters have I none. That man's father is my father's son."
Who was the person in the photograph?
