Jola Sigmond brainteaser - do it for the free poem

Whoa, I am in love with this little brainteaser. It is not easy, but the pattern when you see it is elegant enough to blow your mind with its crystalline sensibility. Not original to me, this was created by Jola Sigmond and is in the latest issue of GAMES magazine.

On with it: what number is missing in the table below (and what's your reasoning)?

2     4     8    16    32
2     3     4     5     6
10   11     X    31    52

Obscure hint in rot-13: Ner lbh orvat naguebcbpragevp jvgubhg zrnavat gb?

More direct hint in rot-13, spaces omitted: abgnyygurahzorefnervaonfrgra... lbhqrpvznyovtbg.

First person to get this without resorting to reading GAMES, I will write you a sonnet on the topic of your choice. Other poem forms of similar length are available on request. Ready, go.

THE ANSWER in rot-13: Va rirel pbyhza, gur guveq ahzore vf whfg gur svefg ahzore rkcerffrq va onfr [frpbaq ahzore]. "Gra" vf gjb va onfr gjb, "ryrira" vf sbhe va onfr guerr naq fb sbegu. Gur zvffvat ahzore vf "gjragl", gung vf, gjb mreb, juvpu vf whfg rvtug va onfr sbhe. (Gurer'f nyfb na nyzbfg-svobanppv-frdhrapr guvat tbvat ba: vs lbh ernq npebff gur pbzcyrgrq guveq ebj, rirel ahzore vf gur fhz bs gur gjb ahzoref cerprqvat vg, zvahf bar. Gung'f xvaq bs n erq ureevat, gubhtu.)

Meme swiped from figmint

( The past, from 20 years ago to yesterday... )

Today, I...
1) sat on the couch with Nala for hours, reading Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
2) told our crazy upstairs neighbor she owes everyone an apology for her screwball accusations... and she apologized! Booyah!
3) bought plane tickets for my upcoming trip to California

Tomorrow, I'll...
1) sit in the local bookstore, drinking coffee and knitting
2) probably go to Baron Baptiste (for the first time since getting regular about yoga)
3) have dinner with bluechromis

In 5 years I want to...
1) be able to do the splits, duh, that's what I always want! And a press handstand while I'm dreaming.
2) still be married to heisenbug
3) have something fabulous and essential in my life that I haven't even imagined yet