Tower of Ivory - "Lemarchand's Box of Wonderland"

Lemarchand's Box of Wonderlands
by
Kristen Marie Kane

As I lay there, dreaming deep
Dreaming demons in my sleep
Clutched in Winter's subtle spell
From far away I heard the knell

The knell, the knell, the brilliant bell
Whose mirthless voice did shrink and swell
Immortal hymns that none could quell
Spinning webs where dark things dwell

And though the vultures circled low
Still my heart refused to go
So lying in that cold embrace
My thoughts caressed your sleeping face

That face, that face, that hidden place
Infused with life and simple grace
Which bitter time could not erase
Nor with its ageless grief replace

I stole your name with every breath
But could not steal your soul from Death
I woke from that enchanted weave
To curse the light without reprieve

Reprieve, reprieve, I dare not grieve
For shadows gathered to deceive
This weary heart to take its leave
And join their ranks this Winter's eve

The End

Illustrator Ryan Durney is a professional artist whose illustrations have included "The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings" and several other children's books for Seedling Publications, Inc.

Most of the time, Ryan paints in pixels, but he still likes to work in traditional medium when possible. He says, "To produce an image that I'm satisfied with, it has to be breaking new ground in some small way. It must communicate something or some place that I could only find in a dream. Technology might be quickly changing the world of art, but I want to embrace the possibilties it opens and try to evolve right along with it."