Once upon a forum clearly, while I pondered weak and weary
Over many a quaint and curious post of forgotten bore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a nagging,
As of someone posting, posting in the forum of the Great War.
"'Tis some curiosity," I muttered. "A silly stupid number game--
Only this, and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember it was bleak October,
And each separate forum member flung their guesses out onto the floor.
Eagerly I wished the answer. Vainly I had sought from Goober -
that clever, crafty, secretive, head-wracking mastermind Goober -
An answer - nothing more.
And 162, numbers raising many a WTF and lolwut
Gnawed at me - filled me with fantastic aggravation never felt before.
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"Tis some curiosity--three numbers that make absolutely no sense.
A silly, benign head game meant to make me bash my head through a door -
This it is, and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating then no more.
"Goober," said I, "or Dekker, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was browsing, and so suddenly you came posting,
bringing us numbers I had never seen before. Mayhap you give me a clue?
Is this a reference to lost Freespace lore?"
Silence now, and nothing more.
Deep into the silence peering, long I sat here, wondering, fearing,
doubting, wishing fates upon Goober no forumite had ever dared to dream before.
"Surely," said I, "In fairness it is only right to offer a nonregular a hint.
A small clue to lessen the burden of this mystery."
Silence again. Nothing more.
Then this forumite beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance he wore,
"Come now," said he, "the answer will find you. Don't give up!"
"I have no idea where to begin," said I. "A hint to this mystery, I implore!"
"Related to the forum's functioning, it is," said he.
Only this, and nothing more.
Back to IRL returning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I felt that nagging within me once more.
"Surely," said I, "There is some logic to this puzzle.
Let me see, then, what thereat it is, and this mystery explore.
Let my heart be stilled a moment and this quandary explore;
'Tis a simple thing, and nothing more!"
Then, methought, the pounding in my skull grew denser, growing evermore tenser
Fueled by the quandary posted in the forum of the Great War.
"Help!" I cried, "thy Mod has lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
an unsolvable quandary. 162! Too difficult a mystery for me to explore."
"Bull****, dude," said another; "It took me until my eyes were sore.
But I got it, and you will too. Persistence on your part I implore."
Mindnumbing frustration. This I feel, and nothing more.
And those numbers, never flitting, still are sitting, still are sitting
Pinned in the forum of the Great War;
And their meaning has all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the question in my mind throws their shadow on the floor;
"What is 162?"
I shall bother asking...nevermore.
