DAG’S MANTRA
FROM
EUGENE O’NEILL’S
"BEYOND THE HORIZON"
(REVISED)

I USED TO STARE OUT OVER THE FIELDS TO THE HILLS OUT
THERE – AND SOMEHOW AFTER A TIME I’D FORGET ANY
PAIN I WAS IN AND START DREAMING. I KNEW THE SEA
WAS OVER BEYOND THOSE HILLS, THE FOLKS HAD TOLD
ME AND I USED TO WONDER WHAT THE SEA WAS LIKE,
AND TRY TO FORM A PICTURE OF IT IN MY MIND. THERE
WAS ALL THE MYSTERY IN THE WORLD TO ME THEN
ABOUT THAT FAR OFF SEA AND THERE STILL IS!
IT CALLED TO ME THEN, JUST AS IT DOES NOW, AND I’D
PROMISE MYSELF THAT WHEN I GREW UP AND WAS
STRONG, I’D FOLLOW THAT ROAD, AND IT AND I WOULD
FIND THE SEA TOGETHER.

THOSE WERE THE ONLY HAPPY MOMENTS OF MY LIFE THEN,
DREAMING THERE AT THE WINDOW. I LIKED TO BE ALL
ALONE – THOSE TIMES.

I GOT TO KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SUNSETS BY
HEART. SO, GRADUALLY I CAME TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE
WONDERS OF THE WORLD HAPPENED ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THOSE HILLS.

THERE WAS THE HOME OF THE GOOD FAIRIES WHO
PERFORMED BEAUTIFUL MIRACLES. THERE WASN’T MUCH
ABOUT OUR HOME, BUT THE LIFE ON THE FARM. I DIDN’T
LIKE THAT, SO I HAD TO BELIEVE IN FAIRIES.

PERHAPS I STILL DO BELIEVE IN THEM?