Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Remembering the easy days of traditionals clearly.
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a ringing,
As my iPhone began its singing, announcing one more mystery cache.
From the depths of my brain – clues went flying -
Only this, and nothing more.
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in late October,
And each crumbled paper wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Caesar, vigenere, ASCII, playfair, - all cast their shadows
Eagerly I sought the answer; - vainly I had sought to think
But all I did was find despair, and into depression I did sink.
And the sad evince rejections of each failed attempt
Stymied me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
Please bring some visitor to Grand Traverse Pie Company -
Some late visitor making promises to help me see -
Nurse Nanna, Allenite, OCCD – who could it be?
Then a figure entered, sensed my sorrow, and spoke only one word – Poe -
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a movement did he flutter -
Till I scarcely more than muttered “Gold Bug Cipher!”
In an instant he had left me, but my hopes were rising fast
For the solution was here at last!