All things I devour: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers. I gnaw iron, bite steel. I grind hard stones to meal. What am I?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer to this riddle is Time.
Time is often described as devouring everything around it because it is relentless and ever-moving. Over time, all things eventually decay or change, which is reflected in the riddle’s wording. Let’s break it down:
- “All things I devour: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers.”
Time has an effect on all living things. It causes aging in animals, plants, and humans. Every living thing is subject to the passage of time and, eventually, will be affected by it. Trees grow old, flowers wither, and animals age. - “I gnaw iron, bite steel.”
Time doesn’t just affect living organisms. Even inanimate objects like iron and steel are worn down by time. This could refer to the natural process of rusting, erosion, or corrosion, where metals are slowly broken down over time due to exposure to the elements, especially water and air. - “I grind hard stones to meal.”
Even the toughest materials, like stones, are slowly eroded by time. This can happen due to the action of weathering and other natural forces that act over long periods. Over many years, even rocks and mountains can be worn down, broken into smaller pieces, or reduced to dust.
Time, in essence, is the force that constantly moves forward, leaving no stone unturned and no creature unaged. It affects everything, from the smallest flower to the strongest metal, causing them all to eventually break down, age, or transform. Thus, the riddle highlights the all-consuming nature of time and its irreversible effects on the world around us.