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The history of encoding and poetry goes way back, but is most playful in the riddle. Below are two, one by Christina Rosetti, and the other by Jonathon Swift. You can find the answers, and some more here.

There is one that has a head without an eye,
And there's one that has an eye without a head.
You may find the answer if you try;
And when all is said,
Half the answer hangs upon a thread.
--Christina Rossetti

We are little airy Creatures,
All of diff'rent Voice and Features,
One of us in Glass is set,
One of us you'll find in Jet,
T'other you may see in Tin,
And the fourth a Box within,
If the fifth you shou'd pursue,
It can never fly from you.
--Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)