- - - Written Fantasy Works - - - The Wizard's Crown cycle of lyrics Pt. 1 | The Wizard's Crown cycle of lyrics Pt. 2 | Further lyrics from 2022 | Lyrics from 2023
- The Wizard's Crown Pt. 1 -
Doom to Fall
Waiting for the doom to fall I feel it’s near Waiting for the doom to fall I feel the fear Waiting for the doom to fall The Astral Master’s calling Waiting for the doom to fall Waiting for the doom to fall Waiting for the doom to fall It’s already here Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Doom Upon Us
Day breaks, crashes, falls to rain-soaked ground Mist creeps, ether-like, all around Spectral harbinger by standing stones Chill of death seeping through my bones Caught in the strands of a man-made web It is to this point we have been led We conjured, knowing not our fate Realising far too late Played with forces of arcane might Day transformed into blackest night Lightening strikes led us on this way We met our match this darkest day The spectre reaches out to me It offers death to set me free My silent scream, for none to hear Death, doom, despair enhances fear Death is among us There’s no escape Our time has come It’s far too late Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
The Wizard’s Crown
The tower stands, a spire of broken stone From distance, takes the shape of shattered bone It stands aloft but hidden from men’s eyes By force of wizard’s will and faith alone It’s crenelated peak now worn with age Defences lost but needs them not, this Mage Just home for crow, around the ruin flies As wizard turns another arcane page At last, the tome, its knowledge starts to yield Elixir, meaning, reason, long years sealed At odds with life, the world of men is lies The wizard, ‘gainst dark forces, world be healed But as the page, its secrets into focus play It quickly blurs and starts to fade away The wizard to his fate, he merely sighs The prize will have to wait another day Sun failing, rays strike at the aged tower Man sees but light reflect, last sunbeams shower Unknowing at the sky he cries The world may fall but man knows not the hour Dark falls, its blanket, ragged hanging down The crows at roost, their caws have all but drowned Quiet descends atop the broken tower Black night hugs tight the wizard’s crown Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Doom Crow
Doom crow stands atop the weathered tower Gloom crow sees beyond the mortal’s hour Calls-caw-calls, his message pulled away on Winter’s wind Once news called out, he never can rescind Avert your eyes, see not your fate Cover your eyes, before too late Protect your eyes, stand not and wait Twas yesterday the doom crow ate The battlefield of man is never far away The reason fought for, who can ever say? Reprieve from death for man, ever belated But doom crow lands, never seeming to be sated Avert your eyes, see not your fate Cover your eyes, before too late Protect your eyes, stand not and wait Twas yesterday the doom crow ate Moon glow shimmers ‘round the funeral pyre Sound rises, smoke-like from a plaintiff lyre The eyeless offered, consumed by fire, to unknown fate Doom crow caws, flies full-winged, he has just ate Avert your eyes, see not your fate Cover your eyes, before too late Protect your eyes, stand not and wait Twas yesterday the doom crow ate Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
No-one Ever Knows
The seal is set about the forest dark Once placed, it falters not and hides ‘High Home’ It’s power emanates from wizard’s work And no-one ever knows… Sigil crafted, skill is ever honed He works on through the day and night Ward is set so he is ever left alone And no-one ever knows… Deer and fox explore the forest floor As high above the wizard weaves his spells Their paths lead unaware, on to the Tor And no-one ever knows… Looking out from window high Across the world he doth espy The plight of man, beseeching cries He turns away, back to his work, once more renewed, empowered by the scene about, to try How time flies And no-one ever knows… Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Blight
Blight creeps across the realm Man forsaken, hell is at the helm All decays, falls away Prayers crumble on parched lips, there is nothing left to say Only one, toiling atop a hidden tower All hope unknown for him to arrest decay and let a new life Flower. He works alone, the burden his to bear Ragged clothed and unkempt whitened hair Time runs on, falling grains of sand Hope is failing, falling through his hand The blight encroaches, ever nearing day and night He ponders lore, casts spells but nothing seems to stem his fright That he might fail. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Sleepwalk
Sleepwalking into the night Doing nothing to stop the blight It spreads, inside our heads and we can’t get it out Everyone marches, I scream a silent shout. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Plea
The years had passed like clouds in a turbulent sky Dark crows punctuated the air with calling cry Life falls away like leaves from autumn tree I missed the chance of all that I could be What questions left to ask before I die? I set in order strands that wove my fate Time passes, yet it is, still not too late Follow what was, to understand what is Like bones, fate’s strands may grant me this And maybe, chance to divinate. Oh dark cloud stop, desist your flee Dark crow be silent, hear my plea Drag time to slow and maybe even halt Give time, so I may search the ancient vault That I may yet still be what I may be. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Moss Bound
Entrance entrances with its chequered floor And though the wizard passed this threshold times before He looks with eyes anew and finds a clue behind the door The chequer veils a portal to the evermore. With sigil, chant and focussed mind beneath a moon He manges an ingress down, into a tomb Enveloped in a darkened, finds a moss-bound womb He hopes to find an answer, long forgotten, ‘gainst the blight, a buried boon. Slicked fern and moss provide a verdant throne For alter housing hewn from purest stone Within resides a precious tome It rested here for aeons, left alone. Once this way, an adept must have passed And brought with him or her the tome, from ancient past The mossy womb has held the opus fast Until this day when knowledge is now freed at last. Heart quickens in this wizards frail frame What treasures written in, he cannot name But in the sanctity of tower, ancient knowledge he has hope to tame He hopes to beat the blighting evil at its game. An entrance gained Man’s fate unchained The moon now waned But could it be that hope was merely feigned… Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Across the pages
Across the pages letters form and fade while images resolve, then disappear Their meanings all at once coherent and with knowledge, comes a terror, sheer The wizard sees his fate and cannot stop a single tear It falls onto the page, releases nemesis and with it, man’s worst fear. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Across the Heavens
Coal dark clouds gather, blackening the sky above earth’s domain Thunder rumbles, rises, crashes earthward with a deafening refrain With the cacophony comes a ice cold beating rain Earth’s creatures hide in fear ‘ccept for the clear insane. Across the heavens shoots an arrow in a perfect ark Black wizard tears across the sky to make his mark Up shoots the wizard from his tower, against dark clouds, white light is stark Hope of hopes against a deepest dark. They battle, one to damn the other save Onlookers gasp at whitest light so brave But darkest dark, dominion doth he crave Can innocence win out against usurper knave? Twist, falling. Locked as if two falcons clashing Wands as lances fire, fell light flashing They tumble ever landward, to a hilltop crashing And all around the ice cold rain is lashing. Across the heavens there before, has never been A battle such as this, that earthly man has seen Scorched black, the earth, where wizards fell, on hilltop green If both lay dead, for land, what can this mean? Lo! Stirs the wizard white, arrayed in brilliant hue His nemesis is gone, black cinders left, he has won through His purpose held, heart valiant, pure and true And now the land can heal and life burst forth anew. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Grey
A morning drips into existence Blanketing all with grey World’s beauty offers its resistance But all its efforts fade away It hangs on life, like ragged mantle Clothing dreams with shadow’s taint Life dragged down to a fundamental And reason drawn into a feint Trudging on When all has gone Nothing to sign the way Nothing left to say Nothing but a morning, grey. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Green Glade
At forest edge, in the green glade Surround of trees, where flowers grow in Summer’s dappled shade Idyllic, unspoilt verdant bower Sun warms and heartens all who view upon this place, in this hour. But from the East, high in sky Nearing the haven of resplendent panoply. Lands Cleiophane, dragon green Nestles, makes her place amid this Arcadian scene. It is days past, times changed And from the glade Cleiophane has not ranged. Those who would frequent, now, for life’s sake shun Enter not, nor tarry near for fear their life would be undone. Sleeps Cleiophane, still, in oblivion? None are fools to think this ‘she’ is nothing but draconian They visit not green glade It is forever now, in man’s eyes unmade. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Dragonscales
In reflective hue of smooth green, her hide is sealed This diamond hard, repeated pattern will not yield She stands alone, pre-eminent in her field None shall pierce this dragonscale shield. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Gather
The clouds gather in union Coalesce, billow communion They block out the rays of the sun Over the earth in grey, there is dark dominion. We cower, waiting for light relief For in shadow, there is suffering and grief To dispel doom, we can but pray Whether or not the light returns, we cannot say. Will this day ever pass? It seems to blight the mind, forever last We gather, as if collectively we will be saved But in waiting, the dark has to be braved. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Lithic
Standing stones Skeletal remains, the earth’s bones A ring around a space Enclosing time and place A monument to the unknown With time, its mystery has grown Carved runes pointing at power unspoken Recite, potential awoken Sacred scene Evoking hope, solid grey stands in green Monolithic. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- The Wizard's Crown Pt. 2 -
Tower of Lies
You’ve built your tower of lies Now reap what you have sown You hear the plaintiff cries On cold winds they are blown But your foundations start to crumble And soon your tower will fall As stones shift, you start to stumble But above, bereft of love, no-one hears your call. How time flies How man tries How man fails All that’s left, a crumbled tower of lies. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Demons Rise
The day drifts away The sun is gone and the moon comes out to play The dark takes hold Something starts to unfold I try to change but no matter how many tries The demons rise. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Agaric
White flecked, scarlet scream from forest floor Emerging forth, for all to adore Shouting “all, beware! Oblivion here” At once entranced yet forced to fear Cap in hand, careful to entreat Too little, naught. Too much, defeat Fairest beauty on drab forest floor Can I but knock on infinity’s door? Will I be transported through the nexion Or am I but nature’s Endymion? Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Winter in the Wood
Deep winter in the wood Holly crown with berry blood Ivy dark, creeping vine Deep green against white snow, winter sign Tree skeleton, clawing sky Abandoned leaves, left to die Footprints in virgin white Shunning day, embracing night Milk berry hangs with twists of leaves Kiss underneath as each believes Pass from mine to your Enhance, all that I adore The wind bites deep We leave the wood to sleep. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Silent-winged things
Silent-winged things Make the skies their own at night Ragged black shapes of wings Block out the moon’s glow, in flight Shadows in my mind There is no solace for me to find In the darkness I am near-blind Silent-winged things, I know their kind. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Approach
The ice encroaches Our doom approaches The cold bites deep I slow, as if to sleep I move on Try or all is lost and gone My tears freeze as I cry My scream falls upon the wind to die Death’s sleep calls The black veil falls Doom arrives It reaches to take our lives Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Atop the Tower
From atop the tower At some unearthly hour The wizard looks down His mind barely sane Through the haze of rain Surveys his domain From the wizard’s crown. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Acolyte By Moonlight
The Moon’s shine, rimes this dead quiet land Time still, dead night, cold creeps like shadow of a hand Alone, the acolyte in this forsaken place Advances, shivering, aware that at his heels, ruin runs apace. First, out across the fields in aimless search, but no way finding Lost in the forest dark, no direct route, path winding Seeking signs by moonlight, he must find the way And come to Raven Tower, where ere it be, before the break of day. The moon is cast behind the scudding, night dark cloud Its beams withheld, diffused and giving shadow to dark thoughts aloud He stumbles wearily, as if through blackened dreams Where nothing now appears as though it seems. But glinting in emergent shaft of light A slender shimmering of towered shard, into the night The moon illuminates that which by other men, has not been seen And acolyte’s raw senses start to keen. Ruin runs still on coattails of the cursed and the damned The acolyte has moments to recite the words and enter and not show his hand The moon recedes and nothing more is there to see Escaped with hope, from failing earth to another finity. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Ruins
Left to the ravages of time To decay and crumble To fade away Into ruin. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Ravens Roost
The ravens roost atop the tower, over a dying world Silent, now devoid of voice and with their dark wings furled The night creeps in and eats away the day The black birds sated, have no further mind to play Calm descends, darkness falls Long wait for first light and the raven calls. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Blackened Wings (1)
Coal dark Aloft on hope alone The wings of this bird This angel with blackened wings Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Incense
Slowly rising, smoke, entwining snakes Oblivious of the senses it awakes From earthly domain, a heavenly path to awaken Thoughts rise, all else forsaken Breathe in sweet breath Forever life, no attar of death Fear not, first dream, inchoate Incense illuminate. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
As Mist Descends
Sat in silence by the broken bough as mist descends Its cold embrace erases thoughts but to what ends? The scene before me disappears, in grey it blends And down the valley, serpentine, the indistinct, a way it wends. In grey veil nothing is as it seems Visions emerge from deep inside of dreams I try to make more sense but lack the means The grey, it billows, swirls about its schemes. Cold infuses deep in bone and marrow Expanse once was but field of view now narrow Thoughts left at rest in this tomb-like barrow Meaning drains away to leave a mind but fallow. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Bane
In the greensward The sun beats down But to its periphery, where trees grow And longer leaves take filtered light The bane grows Away from eyes Where no-one knows ‘Cept the wind sighs But soon the flower shows And passer by cries And with delight, slows Picks, not identifies And then dies. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Light and Dark
In the woodland Light and dark merge to form the present Under a blooded moon The hours pass by I wonder why. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
The Acolyte
Clothed in robe of darkest brown Hood obscures with head bowed down From his staff, with gem held tight, it seems That moon-enhanced, bright white light gleams. With ancient, weathered tome in hand He walks, enthralled across the land The words speak from the hidden page To proselytize this would-be Mage. Travelled far but far to go Knowing much but much to know Driven by the driving rain Losing all for all to gain. Step by step by step by step. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Shadows Fall
The sun hangs low, its rays clip forest trees Their shadows fall, the last of day to seize Before letting go. Black lines across my eyes are cast The sun decays, it cannot night outlast I see it fade. Last glint of sun, and now light must depart Joy fails and streaked across my heart A shadow falls. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Fade
Fade into the grey of day A gaunt light pervades my every move But every now and often then A shimmering Come into play. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Silent Winged Flight
Silent winged flight Throughout the deep of darkest night Wan sphere, sickly pale moon light Taking in all, the earth’s plight Ragged wings rake Leaving leprous wake Viewing all the lives you take All we can do is hope for escape. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- Further lyrics from 2022 -
The man in the moon
The man in the moon Sees the earth’s blue bloom It revolves slowly over the years Through the doom, gloom and fears Things change apace Spelling doom for the human race He reaches out and all he receives is space junk Discarded waste that lands with a thunk. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Lining Their Pockets
Lining their pockets while I patch the holes in mine. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
A Lifetime
A Lifetime’s a long time But it’s no time at all We’re not going to take this But we’re nearing the fall Don’t answer back Just answer the call You miss the point that we’re Blocked by the brick wall You take up arms Because you’re so small Others take up the slack While you take in the haul A Lifetime’s a long time But it’s no time at all. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
The Spectre
The spectre haunts my nights And waking days Into the realm of frights The peace from my mind, it flays In black it seeps, removes light It finds ways And with it, all reason takes flight Tricks it plays. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
In the Blink of an Eye
In the blink of an eye I see the star die And thus a black hole forming Energy release, given this warning The universe unstable We have to do the best we’re able I won’t gamble I’ll just make my way, then die, I’ll amble… Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Lost Sight
My feet are held in syncrete While my head is in the clouds I reach for something concrete But all is wrapped in shrouds I need to find an answer, time is running out Need to find out what this life is really all about. Image drawn in golden sands Reason, meaning: gift from sacred hand I can’t see what comes into play The woes of this world take my sight away A meaning seems so close Maybe just a breath away It could be here or there, who knows I lack the means to say My head is filled with images, in disarray and splintered Left still wondering at what is merely hinted. Image drawn in golden sands Reason, meaning: gift from sacred hand I can’t see what comes into play The woes of this world take my sight away Guides are left and signs are posted All throughout the kingdom meaning in flora hosted Encapsulated within them We all have a path but mine is made of broken stones At least I do not have to make this journey all alone. Image drawn in golden sands Reason, meaning: gift from sacred hand I can’t see what comes into play The woes of this world take my sight away Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
The Crucible
Melt the ego in the crucible of time Only then will the stars align Only then will our lives have meaning Of our glory, will we have weaning I am, becomes we are When I wish upon a star We are better than the I We should abandon the my I becomes we Blind becomes see Dissolve hateAttenuate We should embrace There is no human race We are at the finish line We just need to heed the sign Embrace, love all Before we irrevocably fall. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Mind control
The battle for your soul It began at birth You must strive to remain whole Don’t let life diminish your worth Question every minute Don’t lose track of your days Don’t let them diminish Don’t let them make you change your ways You are fully greater than you know Stepping out without a care Every day you grow Give away and share. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
In the blink of an Eye
In the blink of an eye From here to there and back again… Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
In the Green
In dreams I went In dreams you came We met upon ether’al plain Entranced by floral scene In the green To live in such a sight unseen There’s more to life than meets the eye Must, harder try As time passes by. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Dimensions
Dimensions In place, space and time Intentions Purposeful, but blind Extensions Beyond, extend the mind Redemptions Search and find. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
The Dark Side of the Brain
There has to be more Than this We cannot live Without bliss If I think it through, will I make it To you? In the orange fire of thought Still blue Turn away from Bad deeds Letting go of My needs. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness Expand your mind Do not leave your third eye blind Life must have meaning Inner dreaming In the blink of an eye From here to there and back again A journey to travel A reasoning to unravel Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
For the fallen
For the fallen For the broken down Those who’re crawling Those without a crown I thought the days would brighten and the clouds drift away But sun eludes me, nothing I can say I am falling I have broken down You can see me crawling You can’t see a crown. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - Crow
The plaintiff crow caw Midnight black against Midnight The still night’s only flaw Until the crow takes flight A ruffle of feathers, a rustle of wings Circling the castle’s crown His ancestor has tasted the eyes of kings He now descends down Harbinger of the fall Black winged sign Herald with a caw call Shine. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Mist Hangs
Mist hangs Obscuring the morning Nagging pain Makes life but warning Cold bites Holds on with sharp teeth Time lingers Like the opportunist thief This day Feel like I’m set upon It drags On and on and on and on and on… Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
DRONE
Repetition Calls again The drip of time Pools, to lay claim The hum of days The Whirr of dreams Lost in translation Nothing seems Desaturate Monotone Reverberate Drone. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Sign
Sign Burning into these thoughts of mine Thinking Reasons start to align Meaning Can be too much or too little Wanting But the word can be brittle. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - Nature's Night
Ivy twine and holly crowns Moss-lingering strands Mistletoe, high hung in boughs Adorn these ancient lands Winter creeps through dead places Water freezes, light fades Leaves carpet empty spaces The other seasons are betrayed Footfall hard on iron ground Fog hangs mournfully in the air Crack of ice the only sound Snow blanket deepens everywhere On into Nature’s night Day can only dream The solitary black-winged bird sets flight A solitary scream. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- Lyrics from 2023 -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - Bramble and Briar
Bramble and briar entwine Earth and moon align Lovers walk hand in hand, sublime Bramble and briar entwine Moonshine glints, reflected on a Rhyne Lovers kiss in green dark bower, made shrine Bramble and briar entwine Night infused with scent of pine Lovers, love to each other consign Bramble and briar entwine In time the heart of each, wither and is made malign But lover’s hearts, in love, will not decline. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - Guardian
Wings unfurled My breath is taken away I have no care in this world There is nothing I can say Around me, your wings you curl As night follows day Autumn leaves in motion, swirl As protected, I lay. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - Moss Carpet
Moss carpet of most vibrant green Soft lush abundance seen Barefoot enticed to tread Into a realm to be led. On forest floor by winding stream Green moss pervades, evokes a dream The senses revel, care is shed Lay down to rest in verdant bed. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - The Dragon's Skull
I came upon a dragon skull Embedded in the moss Bone white against the bold green Mull Reminder of a loss Many years must since have passed When laid it down to sleep Though it would want all mourn the last No vigil any keep In fear must people then have cowered But it would not have known The fire upon the peoples showered Remembered, no love shown I touch the bone white crest, with tears The beast, tho’ cunning knew Knew naught of any people’s fears And they, of virtues, few Gone, never to return this kind And none will miss its like Yet stumble I, upon this find And cannot take dislike. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Good Night
The sky’s glow just before night Entranced by alien light Fade of infinitesimal motion Clouds pass in celestial ocean Just before fall, a final gleam I close my eyes to dream. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Blink
In the blink of a liar’s eye Some may fly Some may die There is no rhyme or reason It’s just the season For treason. And in the blink You can miss more than you miss You realise and start to sink I walk wide-eyed I’ve always been on the other side With those who’ve died Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - Portal
The entrance to another realm Move from this earth’s domain This place, the senses overwhelm And over time, doth reign By the Swirling door, the lights Entice and all must bow Never before been seen, these sights Droll earth cannot suffice now Once entered over threshold The trav’ler is consumed The realm all now doth enfold And trav’ler is entombed Pity the fool entranced by light That sage would not be fooled Entrapped in world of ever night Forever to be ruled. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Autumn
Leaves of russet, brown and gold Have fallen from trees arms Autumn, it was, made them unfold Beguiled by low sun’s charms. Lay gently down on wooded ground Interred in Autumn’s cape Dead still, to make but not a sound Until in Spring I wake. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Lychgate Liaisons
In the dead of a forgotten night When hard rain fell in staves We sheltered from the starlight Alongside fallen graves The moon had risen in the sky But hid behind dark clouds Still night was pierced by plaintiff cry I heard you gasp aloud We sheltered from the night and rain Under a lychgate fair We kissed and yes, we kissed again As the moon fell on your hair I knew our love would stand the test Of time and thus decay Our life’s resolve had been addressed All fears, that night, allay. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
- A Wizard's Crown Lyric - The Dream
The land is bleak and blackened All hope is laid to rest I know not how this happened Why I am put to test All green is black and wilted Clouds roil and block the light Life’s love is ever jilted The day lost to the night I thought to make a difference But all has come to naught I flounder now in ignorance Bereft of even thought. But mist now seems to rise from my sight Day dawns out of the black maw of night Not hopeless now as it did most seem Was all this but a night time of dream? Reprieve from doubt and hope is renewed To strive evermore against age old feud. Grey Solstice - - - - - - - - - -
Lyrics by Russell McDonald-Bell (RP) Copyright © 2022 - 2023, murpworks.com