The sky is cloudy

The sky is cloudy, yellowed by the smoke.
For view there are the houses opposite
Cutting the sky with one long line of wall
Like solid fog: far as the eye can stretch
Monotony of surface & of form
Without a break to hang a guess upon.
No bird can make a shadow as it flies,
For all is shadow, as in ways o'erhung
By thickest canvass, where the golden rays
Are clothed in hemp. No figure lingering
Pauses to feed the hunger of the eye
Or rest a little on the lap of life.
All hurry on & look upon the ground,
Or glance unmarking at the passers by
The wheels are hurrying too, cabs, carriages
All closed, in multiplied identity.
The world seems one huge prison-house & court
Where men are punished at the slightest cost,
With lowest rate of colour, warmth & joy.

In a London Drawingroom by George Eliot

I got the Kimberly head from Catwa. I am liking it ok so far. Here is a great review by Strawberry Singh with all you need to know. It was the first time for me making a Bento shape, but I think it turned out ok. Btw I have to say Pumec keeps making me happy with their skins!

Details:

Skin: Pumec: May, rare, gacha, The Chapter Four
Sweater: Semller: Sweater 5, Ski Resort Gacha, Cosmopolitan

Scarf: Semller: Scarf 4, Ski Resort Gacha, Cosmopolitan
Hair: Calico: Kadri, Browns (unpacked)
Eyes: Buzz: Okina, Avada, Epiphany
Pants: Tiar: skinny jeans
Shoes: Lindy Modern: Casey, Poe9
Nails: Livia: Xmas Glitz, MCH (check old hunt gifts)
Head: Catwa: Kimberly, Bento
Body: Maitreya: Lara Mesh body
Shape: my own

Pose: Verocity: ITW Hunt #24
Location: London City North
Windlight: London2050

The Arrow and the Song

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Details:

Dress: Eveline In The Box: Xavienne, Plaid Purple, 25LTuesdays
Collar: On A Lark: Collar 01, 25LT
Boots: G&D: Ankle Gio Black, Hello Tuesday
Eyes: HSH: Wolf 01, purple, Cosmopolitan
Hair: Ayashi: Shiro, Brown set, Sanarae
Skin: Birth: Emi TC4, Catwa, Tone 02, RARE, The Chapter Four gacha
Nails: Nail Me: MmmCoffee, Ball of Yarn Hunt
Head: Catwa: Bibi
Body: Maitreya: Mesh Body, Lara

Pose: Belle Poses: Joss 6, 2nd Level gift

Location: Archimedes Public Library, Babbage Palisade

Windlight: region

I Broke the Spell

I broke the spell that held me long,
The dear, dear witchery of song.
I said, the poet’s idle lore
Shall waste my prime of years no more,
For Poetry, though heavenly born,
Consorts with poverty and scorn.

I broke the spell–nor deemed its power
Could fetter me another hour.
Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget
Its causes were around me yet?
For wheresoe’er I looked, the while,
Was Nature’s everlasting smile.

Still came and lingered on my sight
Of flowers and streams the bloom and light,
And glory of the stars and sun; –
And these and poetry are one.
They, ere the world had held me long,
Recalled me to the love of song.

“I Broke the Spell That Held Me Long” by William Cullen Bryant

Details:

Shoes: Empire: Alchemic, Luxe box January
Hair: Lamb: Widowspeak, Luxe box January
Top: Foxes: Luxe box outfit, January
Tattoo: Nanika: Mehendi henna tattoo, Cosmetic Faire gift
Nails: Kokolores: Light Nude Nails, Omega, Cosmetic Faire
Pants: MayCreations: mesh laced pants, black leather (older mesh, try demo!)
Skin: Pumec: Exclusive skin gift, Catwa applier, The Crossroads
Eyes: Lotus: Starry eyes, Brown, The Chapter Four gift

Pose: Highway65: Model Collection 9

Location: Maymay Matova's Art Island
Maymay has a Special Exhibit at Galleria Kakku currently, until end of February. She also has a shop at Whispering Hearts, near the exhibit, and a regular booth  at the gallery.

Windlight: Annyka's Soft Lavender Day

What in the Dickens?

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another". - Charles Dickens

Details:

Hair: Diva: Nina, Red Amber
Cloak: Ashmoot: AW Coll, Color Me Project
Bracers: B&C: Winter's Chill, Midwinter event
Skin: Glam Affair: Olivia, The Epiphany Birthday
Shoes: Empire: Foxglove, The Chapter Four gift
Eyes: Queen oF Ink: Queen, The Chapter Four gift
Earrings: Ricielli,  Koko, Silver, TCF
Nails: Nailed It: All in One, On9 Christmas Gift Set
Dress: Foxes: Party Dress, Luxebox December
Head: Catwa: Bibi
Body: Maitreya: Mesh Body, Lara

Pet: MishMish: Cozy Little Bear, Luxe Box December

Pose: Belle Poses: Joss 3, 2nd Level gift

Location: The Dickens Project 2016, Produced by Seanchai Library, at Water Haven, sponsored by Kultivate Magazine / benefiting Team Diabetes SL (Make sure to check out the Eight Days if Dickens Mini-Hunt)
Windlight: PinkPurple

Absurdly charming elements

Unfortunately happiness
Depends a little more than less
On undependable, and hence
Absurdly charming elements.
- Here Today and Gone Tomorrow by Margaret Fishback

Details:

Skin: Atomic: Elf Catwa Applier, Honey 2, Arcade
Hair: Clawtooth: Winter Song, Essentials, FLF
Heels: Breathe: Camshaft, Antique Ruby, The Chapter Four
Shorts: The Secret Store: Audra Linen, Red Polka, C88
Cardigan & top: TBO: Lupe, boho fringe
Eyes: Dulce Secrets: Desirous Garden Eyes
Necklace: Astralia: Sweet Bee, old Kustom9 gift
Nails: Livia: Harvest, old TJTH6
Head: Catwa: Bibi
Body: Maitreya: Mesh Body, Lara

Pose: Ilaya: Sophia, Pack 1, 6, Shiny Shabby
Location: Christmas @ StoryBrooke Gardens

You’re all in the white of the snow

From a ways, the sky and your hands
come to my eyes, from some distant part of you;
it’s snowing out, you’re all in the white of the snow
every track in the candor a wound
and the field beyond the window is a body
a glance that becomes a pronouncement,
the heat of breath, your head adrift in sleeplessness;

that’s where it returns, in a word translated into silence
where the sparrows tie loose knots
your palms on your eyes, chest on your knees
forehead in the snow.

by: Pierluigi Cappello (translated by: Todd Portnowitz)

Details:

Skin: Pumec: Anita, January, The Chapter Four gift
Headpiece: E-Motions: Martha, We<3RP gift
Eyes: Astrae: Gaze, Dusk, Frostfell, We<3RP gift
Jewellery: Devious Mind: Snowflake choker and earrings, We<3RP gift
Dress: Tiffany Designs: Ice Mini Dress with Appliers, The Frozen Event
Hair: Tram: F1124
Flats: Breathe: Emmy, The Forest Event
Eyebrows: Alaskametro: Glimmer, KittyCatS gift
Watch: Glint: Womens Snowflake diamond watch

Pose 1: Stardust: Snowy, TCF Gift
Pose 2: An lar: The Pixie Series, Five, TCF

Location: Winterfell Absinthe
Windlight: Fairy dark blue Paulina

Beautiful art by Silas Merlin

I had to post about all the beautiful art Silas Merlin does. It would be lovely to see people write stories about these imaginative pieces.

Silas Merlin AKA Jean-François Le Saint, is a talented artist from France. He has been a Master Pastelist (Maître Pastelliste) of the Pastel Society of France (Société des Pastellistes de France) since 2009 and now makes amazing digital art, such as the statues shown in this post, in Second Life. His website has more information and pictures. You can watch this video from an exhibit in SL that he also had in real life. And I loved seeing how he does his pastels.

Sculpture by Silas Merlin as part of the decor in The Forest Event

Silas Merlin at The Forest Event (event website)

Silas Merlin at Lost & Found

Silas Merlin at The Chapter Four

Silas Merlin at Galleria Kakku

Silas has his own gallery at Babbage Square

Among his artwork are some reproductions of the works of famous masters.

Rose

Details:

Eyes: Inkheart: Prana, Chakras, The High Life Hunt (Thanks InkHeart!)
Nails: Tashi: Grape Fizz, The Jerky Turkey Hunt 6
Dress: RealEvil Industries: Irina, Rose, Hello Tuesday
Hair: No Match: No Hunt, Hello Tuesday
Lipstick: Alaskametro: Fall Runway, Sad November 3
Shoes: Breathe: Diana Heels, Peach, gacha, The Chapter Four
Ring: Spell: Quarzo Rosa, The Chapter Four
Headdress: Cubic Cherry: Harvest tiara, The Liaison Collaborative
Head: Catwa: Bibi
Body: Maitreya: Mesh Body, Lara

Pet: Lassitude & ennui: Dragon whelp, rose, gacha, The Gacha Garden

Pose: Elephante: Rose 2
Location: Art Ark

Windlight: Gwen's Light