Porcupine (Attack)
When you turn around, ask yourself:
"Am I protecting the soft place?
Or am I protecting myself from being known?
I see you raising your quills before anyone gets too close.
I know that feeling.
I know the fear that comes before the touch.
The moon grows from a sliver.
Small enough to feel exposed.
And I am the same.
I am Porcupine.
I feel the danger before I know if it's here.
I am the one who protects the soft place.
[PARTIAL CHORUS]
Turn around.
Look again.
(Turn around.)
[VERSE 1]
The little one inside says:
"Tell me where the danger is
so I can quit imagining it.
Please do not get too close.
I will hurt you before you can hurt me.
If I stay ready,
nothing can surprise me.
Waiting for the hurt feels worse than the pain.
My eyes are poor in the dark.
Fear finishes the picture.
I feel breath behind me.
My teeth chatter before the quills rise.
I turn my back
so I never have to watch them leave.
Sometimes I turn before I know why.
I see them flinch."
Porcupine reminds the little one inside:
"Danger has a place.
Fear puts it everywhere.
Let your eyes adjust.
Look again."
[PRE-CHORUS]
The cheetah pawed at the prickly.
Curious. Confused.
It thought my soft underbelly was an invitation.
It was wrong.
[CHORUS]
Turn around.
Look again.
Porcupine,
protect the soft side.
Turn around.
Look again.
This boundary, this boundary is alive.
When you turn against yourself,
turn back toward me.
I will protect you while you learn to turn around.
(Turn around.)
[VERSE 2]
The little one inside says:
"Something moves in the brush
and every quill is listening.
Sometimes I can't tell the danger from the discomfort.
I hear something in their tone and I'm already turning.
I sharpen what they said.
I search for a threat.
I make myself ready for the fight.
And sometimes I start it myself.
I hurt others.
I hurt myself.
Then the quills turn inward."
Porcupine says:
"Little one,
if you strike too soon,
turn around.
See where it landed.
Repair what you can.
Come back to the soft place.
A second look can still find teeth.
The cheetah had a warning.
This far.
No further.
The cheetah reached anyway.
The quills did their job.
The cheetah went home.
And, Little One?
Protect yourself from the voice that turns
what you did into who you are."
[CHORUS]
Turn around.
Look again.
Porcupine,
protect the soft side.
Turn around.
Look again.
This boundary, this boundary is alive.
When you turn against yourself,
turn back toward me.
I will protect you while you learn to turn around.
(Turn around.)
[BRIDGE]
Little one,
I need you to know:
The sharpest thing you carry is the second look.
You already know how to fight.
You're learning what the fight is for.
When you turn around, ask yourself:
"Am I protecting the soft place?
Or am I protecting myself from being known?"
You were trying to stay safe
by keeping the whole forest still.
Let the forest move.
The boundary moves with you.
[FINAL CHORUS]
Turn around.
Look again.
Porcupine,
protect the soft side.
Turn around.
Look again.
This boundary, this boundary is alive.
When you turn against yourself,
turn back toward me.
I will protect you while you learn to turn around.
(Turn around.)
[OUTRO]
The quills learned their job
before you learned to choose.
Now they wait for you.
