JOIN USHere is a word game that has to do with a festival just around the corner. Each line of this poem-puzzle declares that a particular letter is ‘in’ or ‘not in’ one of a pair of words. If the correct letters are selected, they combine to form the answer, with the help of an additional clue. Before you start, here is an example, complete with explanation:
My first is not in ME but in YOU, ------
My second in WHAT and WHY; ------
My last is not in RED but in BLUE, ------
My whole in the night does fly. ----- ----- -----.
‘My first’ (the word talking!) refers to the first letter of the answer. We are told that it is in YOU but not in ME. M and E are therefore ruled out, leaving only Y, O and U. Bearing in mind that any of these could be the right letter we proceed to the next line.
This tells us that the second letter is both in WHAT and WHY. W is indicated but it could also be H, the only other letter repeated. We now have Y, O or U from the first line, and W or H from the second. Turning to the third line, we see at once that the third and final letter cannot be R, E or D but it could be B, L or U — none of which is in RED.
It is possible, by juggling the letters we have identified, to get the answer at this point. Nevertheless, let us wait for the clue: ‘My whole in the night does fly.’ This immediately leads us to think of a nocturnal creature. Since 3 letters are involved, both BAT and OWL come to mind. The former, however, is out of the question for you will recall that B, A and T do not feature in our list of probable letters. Our answer appears to be OWL. Checking whether OWL fits in with the letters we noted earlier, we find that it
O is not in ME but in YOU,
W is in WHAT and WHY;
L is not in RED but in BLUE,
OWL in the night does fly.
The three letters make OWL. The other letters that seemed likely may or not form a word but, even if they do, it would be incorrect because it does not conform to ‘in the night does fly’, which is the clinching clue.
Now that you know how to tackle this sort of puzzle, you are ready for the main one. Hint 1: Do not be put off by the variations on the ‘in-not in’ formula.
Hint 2: To enjoy the puzzle, work it out step by step, without turning to the last couplet at the start.
In EGG not in CHICK my first shows face,
Of APRIL my second is part; ----
My third in SUNDAY stands in first place,
Of GREETINGS my fourth is the heart; --
My fifth in FESTIVAL you may sight, ----
My last is in SPRING, not LILY white; ----
My whole comes calling this time of year,
Proclaiming that renewal is here!
Answer: EASTER