The Ivory Tower

A tall Ivory tower stood
Gleaming white
In the enchanted woods
Squating on a low hill
aglow in the
Mid-day sun

Near its top
A dark opening
A preditory eye
Peering out
Scanning the path 
To the wide doorless base

Over its high stone railing
Hangs a thick braided rope of
Blond human hair
Nearly reaching the ground
Thick enough to grip
For the long upward climb

An invitation or bait
A siren’s song
Wafting on the breeze
Beautiful and hypnotic
Tempts the unwharey to
Fortune or a deadly snare

A romantic happy ending
Or road to dystopian
Levels of hell
Love and bliss
For a lucky prince
Or snack in a black widow’s web

Beware the Ivory Tower
Check all your weapons
Before you climb and enter
Appearances can be deceiving
Frequently seeing only and
Exactly what we want to

Until any retreat is but a missed
Opportunity

–LE – 2/28/26