Interlude I (Ripe & Ruin)

She-she-she-she only ev-ev-ev-ev-ever walks to-to count-count her steps
Eighteen-teen strides and she stops to abide by the law that she herself has set
That eighteen steps is one complete set, and before the next nine right and nine left
She looks up-up at the blue and whispers to all of the above:

Don't let me drown, don't breathe alone, no kicks, no pangs, no broken bones
Never let me sink, always feel at home, no sticks, no shanks, and no stones
Never leave it too late, always enjoy the taste of the great-great-great grey world of hearts
As all dogs everywhere bark-bark-bark-bark, it's worth knowing
Like all good fruit the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin