From Crib to Crypt

At the funeral service of wartime Bombe operator Jean Valentine last week, a poem in code and in deciphered text was included in the order of service. It was written by her grandson Andy Valentine, who has kindly given us permission to reproduce it here.

EQNLB SJCUP BQXOS
(FROM CRIB TO CRYPT)

Andy Valentine

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LZXAD UIJTM HEDHR BQVAA KD,

SGZSN OFEBZ LHFGS TUBSU SNLZJ FTFOT D,

ZTMHU FSTBM DMHFL B,

OQNSD DUJOH HSRLZ HOJGJ BDMBD.

SGDQD 'TOPDP LODSH UJPOC DSVDD OVT,

BGZKK FOHFT ZQDM'S BMXBZ RSDRS T.

HS'RMN UBCPV SEHMC JOHUI DZMRV FS,

ATSSG FNBOO DQHMV IJDIX DOQNF SFTT.

SGDBQ JCUIB SVDRS BSUXJ SGHRS JOZ,

VHSGR QBDFT ENQBK VFTBT VDFQN X,

‘SHKVD 'SFGJM KHMFN VUTIF DSRSG BUBSF AQNZC,

ZMCRG BSJOH SGDSG JOHTX DMNVJ OPX.

HVNMC FSJGX GZSVD EFDJQ GDQ,

HROZR TFEPO SNSGD OFYUJ MZKHM F,

ZBNCD CPUIJ MMZST SFBOE MTQST SF,

SGZSH OTQJS DRSGD JORVJ RHSHU FNJOE.

VGNBZ ODPNQ QDGDM EUIJT BNKNR TVT?

CNDRZ SPDLS DZKKX UVSOJ MSNRZ OE?

ZMGNT SHMBT RSGZS NFBTV QDRNT SMJGF SHLD,

VGDMH UTUPQ RVDIT TUNJH GSTMC FSTUB MC.

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FROM CRIB TO CRYPT

Andy Valentine

MAYBE THIS LIFE IS A PUZZLE,
THAT ONE DAY MIGHT START TO MAKE SENSE,
A UNIVERSAL ENIGMA,
PROTECTING ITS MAGNIFICENCE.

THERE'S NO COMPETITION BETWEEN US,
CHALLENGES AREN'T ALWAYS TESTS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT FINDING THE ANSWER,
BUT THE MANNER IN WHICH WE PROGRESS.

THE CRIB THAT WE START WITH IS TINY,
WITH SPACES FOR CLUES AS WE GROW,
‘TIL WE'RE FILLING OUT SHEETS THAT ARE BROAD,
AND SHARING THE THINGS WE NOW KNOW.

I WONDER IF WHAT WE DECIPHER,
IS PASSED ON TO THE NEXT IN A LINE,
A CODE BOTH IN NATURE AND NURTURE,
THAT INSPIRES THE INQUISITIVE MIND.

WHO CAN COMPREHEND THIS COLOSSUS?
DOES A ROCK REALLY TURN INTO SAND?
AN HOURGLASS THAT MEASURES OUR LIFETIME,
WHEN IT STOPS WE JUST MIGHT UNDERSTAND