Daniel Henry Rodgers | + Follow Poet |
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Cryptic Cipher in the Crypt

Listen to poem:

(Begin: There is no beginning.)

(O' my--not again--you should not have started.)

 The quill burrows. No--splinters. No--fractures. No--was never here.
 
Ink spills--no--veins spill--no--veins collapse--no--veins rewrite.

The vowels--black-lipped--no--the ink coagulates--the ink tightens--the ink breathes-

acrid, metallic, it stings the tongue.

Teeth in the--grain. Teeth in the letters. Teeth in me--no--teeth in you--no--teeth in the mirror-

splinters in the gum's raw edge.

(First Code Fragment: 8F-2R-7L)

 Look closer. Did you find it? Did you feel it? Did you erase it? Did you write it?
 
Did you write it? Did you--did you--did you-

(Wait--did something change? Did you taste it? Did you see it?)
 
Walls tremble--no--the air trembles--the bone trembles--the breath fractures-

walls crack--walls contract--walls... what walls?

(Second Code Fra-gment: 6X-3T-1D)

 Words gnaw--no--you are cracked--no--you are reading--no--you are inside it--no--you are it-

Reverse it. Reverse it. Reverse it. Reverse it. Reverse it. Ti Esrever.

(Third3 Code Fragment: 4M-9Y-5Q)

 It festers. It bleeds. It rots. It wails--like iron scraping stone--like teeth on glass.
 
No--it does not end. It never ended. It was never written.

(Wait. Did it always say that? Was something different before?)

They find me--folded, drained, chanting riddles--you missed it.
    His counselor reads--her pulse dissolves--her lips de-part--the verse evolves.

(Fourth Code Fragment: 2N-8P-0W)M

 Who wrote this? Who's reading? Who's listening?
 
No--who's speaking peeking? No--who's thinking sinking?
 No--who's remembering dismembering? No--who's forgetting letting?

Your breath is shallow. Your fingers twitch. The ink knows you--its scent of rust and salt-

Did you see it? Look again. Did you miss something? Did you write it? Did you erase it?
   The letters shift. The text moves. The meaning is gone. No--the meaning is waiting-

No--there is no meaning. No--there is only ink. No--there is only you-
a taste of copper on your teeth.

 You have written this before. You will write it again. It will be written again. It will be read again.

It has always existed.

(Final Code Fragment: 6R-3V-7K :(

 Ahhhhhh-

Do not--write. Do not--erase. Do not--read. Do not--think.

        My God. Do not--breathe

Please Login to post a comment

Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/11/2025 7:52:00 AM You are very right talented. A pleasure to stop by. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/11/2025 9:17:00 AM Hello Richard, thanks for your stopping by and I hope you broke the cypher. LOL! This was a great joy to write as I was able to release a little OCD from time to time. Summer Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 7/2/2025 11:03:00 AM Daniel, what a brilliant poet oh yes you are, you know you are ,you are, we know you are, and what a brilliant write of poetic creation - the quill lets us know who you are ,the ink tightens and coagulates, the ink knows you, who is the reader and asks who is the writer as the it continues to spill, the ink has meaning, it has always existed. You my friend are far beyond amazing you exist in a world of intense thinking, of dramatic inevitability. your code fragmentation and your entire write is surreal - WOW!!! Kudos Daniel. Blessings my friend Jennifer. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 11:00:00 AM Dearest Jennifer, I would like to apologize for my delayed response. I have been on vacation for several weeks and am now back. I loved reading your note today, and it certainly filled my soul. I am honored by your words and your visit. This poem was inspired by many people, places and thoughts and was a joy to write. I love pushing the boundaries of poetry. Thank you for your lovely visit. Summer Blessings, My Dear Jennifer, Daniel

Mike Bayles Date: 6/29/2025 6:33:00 AM Wow, so dramatic. And what a creative use of form. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:54:00 AM Hello Mke, It is always a pleasure to see your comments and I am thankful. Sorry for the delayed response, but vacation took over

Maria Williams Date: 6/28/2025 11:45:00 PM Dear Daniel... Wow,This piece is utterly hypnotic — like falling into a spiral where the lines blur between reader, writer, and the words themselves. The recursive rhythm, the fragmented thoughts, the way the language loops and mutates — it feels like the poem is aware of its own existence, and it’s watching us as much as we’re reading it. The shifting “code fragments,” the bleeding ink, the collapsing self… it reads like a cipher for the subconscious. Terrifying, brilliant, and strangely beautiful — a haunting dance between madness, language, and identity. This isn’t just poetry — it’s a literary glitch in the matrix. Absolutely compelling and a fave. You should really get Poem of the Year on this one...Hugs Login to Reply Maria Williams Date: 7/11/2025 6:55:00 AM Thanks Daniel for your very profound response to my comment Hugs Maria Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:53:00 AM Dearest Maria, I enjoyed reading your note today, and I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation for several weeks. I love that line, "It's a literary glitch in the matrix." Like you, we are voyagers seeking out new ways to express our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs, and it certainly puts poetry into the mysterious and code-breaking aspects of our brains. Thank you so much for your lovely note and for making it a fav. Summer Blessings, My Dear Maria, Daniel

Kim Rodrigues Date: 6/27/2025 8:01:00 AM Wow! What a creation! I think sometimes we all try to crack the code…it keeps moving…can we taste, are we breathing it…wowee wow! Fave! I could def read this again. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:49:00 AM Dearest Kim, I apologize for the delay in my reply. I was on vacation for several weeks with my wife and had a great time, but I had very little internet access. I think you are right, and I tried to convey that we all have a code that we want people to see in our poetry, going beyond just the words to find deeper, rooted meanings. I am looking forward to catching up with all your poems. Summer Blessings, my Dear Kim, Daniel

Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 6/22/2025 11:54:00 AM Hello Daniel, Wow! Daniel, I got to admit this is a different type of style, of poetry. It is my first time to see this style of poetry form. It must have been a bit difficult to create. That is what I am thinking. Daniel. Your friend. /Darlene/l Enjoy your day. Login to Reply Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 7/9/2025 11:42:00 AM Hello Daniel your welcome. You did this very well. Oh, i hope you had a lovely vacation. Where did you go? Blessings my dear friend. /Darlene/ Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:46:00 AM Dearest Darlene, Thank you so much for your lovely note. This summer, I felt inspired by my muse to push beyond what is common and develop something that is not so common, but still make it an interesting read. I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation for several weeks. Summer Blessings, My Dear Darlene, Danie

Ink Empress Date: 6/21/2025 8:34:00 AM Dear daniel, i think you can also rap not just sing and play instruments and write profound poetry, you definitely should do a rap song! This is brilliant and very impactful and has so much depth in what youv said as always! These are words of a philosopher and your words do make us question, contemplate and think in an introspective manner! The way youv phrased words too is so powerful! I love the cadence and rhythm and flow and most importantly what youv conveyed here! Pleasure reading this! A fav this is for me! Sending you light always Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:44:00 AM Dearest Empress, I have missed you and sorry for the late reply for I was on vacation for several weeks and had limited Internet. I loved writing this particular poem and I believe that many of the great poets of life struggle at times in their writings and maybe get to caught up in it. I can easily be accused of that. I love pushing the boundaries, and sometimes to the extreme, but I still manage to write a poem that people will read. I am delighted by your note and look forward to catching up on your fantastic poems. Summer Blessings, My Dearest Emress, Daniel

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 6/21/2025 3:37:00 AM such an amazing write, I really enjoyed your poetic speech Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:40:00 AM Dear Rose, Sorry for my late reply for I was on vacation for several weeks. Thank you so much for your note, and I am very appreciative. Summer Blessings, My Dear Rose, Daniel

Duke Beaufort Date: 6/19/2025 9:13:00 AM Daniel, I think your brain is still alive and well! This piece about writing and thinking makes me smile and hope that you are really glad to be alive and share such interesting thoughts. How lucky we all are to share our take on writing and existence. All quite fun. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:37:00 AM Hello Duke, I apologize for the late reply. I was on vacation for several weeks, cruising down the Danube River. Yes, I am glad to be alive, and like you, I feel I have so much to write about, but not enough time actually to get all my thoughts down. Poetry and Music have always been a great joy to me and have kept me creative and sane. LOL! I hope you are enjoying your summer and continuing to write. Summer Blessings, My Friend, Daniek

Frank Sheehan Date: 6/17/2025 1:47:00 PM Hi Daniel! Wonderful fantastic piece. Enjoying your work. It has an element of the surreal. Very creative. Powerful pen. Have a great day. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:39:00 AM Hello Frank, As some say, I love pushing the boundaries of possibilities when I write. Although sometimes I do like to write to the rules of specific poem modalities such as Sonnets, Haikus, Ballads, etc.. Thanks for stopping by and sorry for the late reply. I was out on vacation for several weeks. Summer Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Mickey Grubb Date: 6/17/2025 12:12:00 PM General Patton once said, “If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking.” Daniel, that ain’t you. Your wheels are always spinning, my friend. I think what you have written might well be a branch of “OCD”…lol. Clever! Have fun on vacation. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:34:00 AM Hello Mickey, yes, I love the General Patton. I feel my wheels turning every day, and even when I was on vacation, I had all kinds of poetic ideas that I had to write down each day so I wouldn't forget them. It may be OCD :) or that as I age I have more thoughts on life either way it can get a little crazy. LOL! Thanks for stopping by. Summer Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Paige Hind Date: 6/16/2025 8:22:00 PM Wow, this looks almost like automatic writing. Brilliantly done, Daniel! Your words are often raw and by themselves they make us raw....even if we're getting different things!!! Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:23:00 AM Dearest Paige, It always does the soul good to see your comments. Sorry for the late reply, I have been out on vacation for several weeks and had limited internet time. I am always appreciative of your visits. Summer Blessings, My Dear Paige, Daniel

Paula Goldsmith Date: 6/16/2025 1:46:00 PM WOW!!! What a creative write you have here. Love It... Great Line, "Who wrote this? Who's reading? Who's listening?" You Wrote...I am reading...Everyone is listening... Have a fun day writing away.......... Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 7/9/2025 10:30:00 AM Dearest Paula, sorry for my late reply. I have been out on vacation for several weeks. Thank you for reading my psychological dismemberment. :) I love writing these haunting story lines. Thanks for coming and commenting. I am so happy you enjoyed reading it. Summer Blessings, My Dear Paula, Daniel

Tom Woody Date: 6/16/2025 8:09:00 AM Haha! Well that was an interesting ride. I've said it before but you certainly have a unique way of expressing yourself. I think it's fair to say no one writes like DHR. My fave line that stood out is the rhyming one just above fourth code fragment. Footnote: I never allow myself to fall under the compulsive need to write, so I don't really experience the frustrations so many writers experience. When something strikes my fancy I'll write and it tends to come fairly easily. When I hit a Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 6/16/2025 9:21:00 AM Have fun! Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 6/16/2025 8:54:00 AM Hello Tom, Thanks and I am glad you enjoyed. My issue isn’t as much a fear of creativity and perhaps just the opposite that I have so many poetic ideas rattling around in my head that I believe are good will be forgotten before they are written down. By the way I just put the recorded version up if you want to listen. I do try to be a boundary pusher at times to create something different in poetry. :) Note,My wife and I are going on a two week vacation and won’t be posting as much. Blessings, My Friend, Daniel Tom Woody Date: 6/16/2025 8:10:00 AM roadblock it's a sign to me that I just need to drop the pen and let it go. I refuse to force a poem out of myself, but that's just me

Anne Winter Date: 6/16/2025 7:25:00 AM Dearest Daniel, this poem reminded me of the book The Bell Jar, where Esther cannot read or write. Sometimes, it feels like there's something indescribable I want to write but I cannot write it articulately, we all have doubts. This poem is describing the chaos very well and this line is very calming “You have written this before. You will write it again. It will be written again. It will be read again”. I really enjoyed reading this poem, my dearest friend. With love and respect always, Anne Login to Reply Kim Rodrigues Date: 6/27/2025 8:03:00 AM okay, I third Sylvia! Favorite poem: Tulips! I read The Bell Jar in high school. Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 6/16/2025 8:47:00 AM Dearest Anne, to be compared to one of yours and my favorites, Sylvia and what an honor. I wanted to create a poem that some face and fear but others may worry about. What happens when our world shuts down its creative spark? For us poets there is some underlying fear and speaking of Sylvia she definitely feared the death of creativity. I just put up the recorded version if you are interested.Thanks for being a great friend and poet. Blessings, Light and Hugs, My Dear Anne, Daniel