Spinner's End ---- From a different perspective

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 143753

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ceridwen" 
<ceridwennight at h...> wrote:
> 
> > Ceridwen, finally remembering spinning one's wheels (spinning 
> > wheels?) after how many months? and wondering if there are any 
> > other possibilities we haven't explored.
> >
> 
> Pippin:
> Remember the  Sphinx's riddle in GoF?
> 
> 'First think of the person who lives in disguise
> Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
> Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
> The middle of middle and end of the end?
> And finally give me the sound often heard
> During the search for a hard-to-find word.
> Now string them together, and answer me this,
> What creature would you be unwilling to kiss?'
> 
> The riddle ties together 'spy', 'spider' and 'end'.
> 
> Pippin
>

Speaking of spinning wheels, there was that whole exercise fad of 
spinning with specially-made, fixed bicycles, going nowhere except 
better health, I guess.  The point was to push oneself to the limits 
of one's endurance, I think, directed by a punishing and inflexible 
trainer.  It's another spinning reference...

I like the spider anologies best, however.  There's the web, an 
elaborate structure set in place through painstaking work, undone by 
a "widow" who turns against a would-be male suitor.  There's the 
sitting in wait for prey, controlling the more destructive insect 
population.  There's the trickster, Anansi, who can convince larger 
animals to do his work and then "steals their glory," primarily 
through exploiting their character faults.

My favorite spider story is about Robert the Bruce, where a Scottish 
king, after six disastrous battles, hides in a cave and is ready to 
concede defeat.  He watches a spider try to bridge a gap.  The spider 
fails six times, but on the seventh attempt, succeeds.  Inspired by 
this, the king goes back into battle a seventh time and wins.  I know 
it's wishful thinking that this story could apply to HP, but, oh 
well...

lealess