Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I feel Feel a million trees And the heat of trees
Tape:
Not true trees--
Philomel:
Feel a million tears
Tape:
Not true tears-- Not true trees--
Philomel: Is it Tereus I feel? Tape: Not Tereus; not a true Tereus-- Philomel: Feel a million filaments; Fear the tearing, the feeling Trees, of ephemeral leaves Trees tear, And I bear Families of tears-- I feel a million Philomels Tape: Trees filled with mellowing Felonous fame--
Philomel:
I feel trees in my hair And on the ground, Honeymelons fouling My knees and feet Soundlessly in my Flight through the forest; I founder in quiet.
Here I find only Miles of felted silence Unwinding behind me, Lost, lost in the wooded night.
Tape: Pillowing melody, Honey unheard--
Philomel: My hooded voice, lost Lost, as my first Unhoneyed tongue; Forced, as my last Unfeathered defense Fast-tangled in lust Of these woods so dense. Emptied, unfeeling and unfilled By trees here where no birds have trilled-- Feeling killed Philomel stilled Her honey unfulfilled.
Tape: Feeling killed Philomel stilled Her honey unfulfilled
Philomel: What is that sound? A voice found? Broken, the bound Of silence, beyond Violence of human sound, As if a new self Could be founded on sound. The trees are astounded! What is this humming? I am becoming My own song . . .
SECTION TWO Echo Song
Philomel: O Thrush in the woods I fly among, Do you, too, talk with the forest's tongue?
Tape: Stung, stung, stung, With the sting of becoming I sing
Philomel: O Hawk in the high and widening sky, What need I finally do to fly, And see with your unclouded eye?
Tape: Die, die, die,
Philomel: Let the day of despairing Be done O Owl, the wild mirrow of the night, What is the force of the forest's light?
Tape: Slight, slight, slight;
Philomel: With the slipping-away of The sun O sable Raven, call me back! What color does my torn robe lack?
Tape: Black, black, black;
Philomel: As your blameless and longDried blood O bright Gull, aid me in my dream! Above the riddled breaker's cream
Tape: Scream, scream, scream,
Philomel: For the shreds of your being; Be shrill The world's despair should not be heard! Fear and terror