I. Hymn: The Forest

[ALL]
HMMMMMMMM…
AH

THERE WAS A FOREST
ONE TIME SOME TIME
I WALKED THROUGH A FOREST
ONE TIME SOME TIME

THE FOREST WAS BEAUTIFUL
MY HEAD WAS CLEAN AND CLEAR
ALONE WITHOUT FEAR
THE FOREST WAS SAFE
I DANCED LIKE A BEAUTIFUL FOOL
ONE TIME SOME TIME

THE TWILIGHT MOON
SMILING AND WINKING
MIST ACROSS MY CHEEKS
MURMURING MAGIC
WHISPERING SOFT
SOOTHING GREEN

THE FAIRIES OF THE FOREST
WERE SO SMALL THEY LIVED IN RAINDROPS
ONE KISS THRU A MENISCUS
AND I TREMBLED WITH DELIGHT

(Velma arrives, late. It’s her first time here. Paula welcomes her, gesturing to a chair, and hands her the sheet music.)

THAT WAS A GOOD DAY
ONE TIME SOME TIME
I WALKED THROUGH A FOREST
ONE TIME SOME TIME

[JESSICA] (whispering, pointing at Velma’s music.)
Letter E

(Velma joins the chorus.)

[ALL]
BUT NOW
THE WOODS ARE DARK AND COLD
CLOGGED WITH NETTLES AND ROOTS
THERE IS A MONSTER
AND I AM A MONSTER

ADDICTION, OBSESSION
INSOMNIA, DEPRESSION
AND THE FEAR THAT I’VE WASTED TOO MUCH OF MY SELF
ON RAPID AND VAPID CLICK-CLICKS

ISOLATION, ANXIETY
INABILITY TO ASSIMILATE WITH SOCIETY
AND THE FEAR THAT THE MONSTER WILL FIND ME
INFECT ME AND BLIND ME
BUTCHER MY HEART AND DISTORT MY SOUL

IT’S STARTING TO GET TO ME
IT’S STARTING TO GET TO ME

BUT THERE WAS A FOREST
ONE TIME SOME TIME
I WALKED THROUGH A FOREST
ONE TIME SOME TIME

I WAS OKAY ONCE
I CAN BE OKAY AGAIN
I’VE NOT GONE CRAZY JUST YET
I KNOW WHAT HELPS
AND I KNOW WHAT HURTS

I HAVE SCREENSAVERED THE FOREST
TO REMIND ME THERE ARE PLACES
THAT THE MONSTER DOESN’T GO
~~~~~~~~