A blue foil balloon floats across the stage. Its once and maybe future owner enters from the left, following its once and maybe future possession. The child stops center-stage, surrounded by trees that have crept out from a nearby war memorial.

Child (crying) : Why did mummy have to die?

Trees (as a chorus) : Your mother’s gone
Her stars don’t glimmer
The Cause is simple:
God hates a sinner.

Child (stops crying) : My good ness! Talking trees!

Trees: Slow-witted child
Shaming thou and thine
We don’t just talk
The forest rhymes.

a lumberjack enters from the rear, harking as he goes

Lumberjack: Hark at that, rhyming timber! Just what I need for this new writing desk, that my wife’s poetry might draw on the skill of enchanted wood!

Child: A lumberjack! Sir, save me from these judeo-christian plants!

Lumberjack: Stand aside, tiny citizen!

Trees: He’s a lumberjack and he’s all right.
He works all day and sleeps all night.
This copse won’t go without a fight;
We trees have bark, and also: bite!

the rhyming trees bite the lumberjack to death and kick his prone and lifeless form

Child (crying) : Why did the lumberjack have to die?

Trees: The fool lies slain
And that is that
For why he died?
He’s just a pratt

Child: You trees have rhyme
But want for reason
This is no spring
It’s killing season!

Trees: This kid can rhyme
It’s plain to see
He has skill, sure
But ne’er such as we!

Child: A rhyming battle
Is this the game?
You’ll neither win ‘gainst me
Nor rhyme again!

Trees: Bold words indeed
From one so young
We’ll play along
And have our fun

Child (emboldened) : Arrogant shrubs
Your verse is dire
You’ll surely burn
Atop my fire

Trees (embittered) : This child is rash
His speech is brave
Foretelling us
A fiery grave

Child (empowered) : Stand down fell flowers
Attack thus for hours
‘Tis no stronger than showers
You don’t have the powers!

Trees (embolism) : He ups the pace
Such a devilish face
Flee this place
…something …disgrace. We’re melting!

Child (crying) : Why did the trees have to die?

The balloon reappears from stage left and floats again across the scene. The child gives chase, weeping.