The play was written in 1911 in the city of Kutaisi, and was first staged on 22 November 1918 at the Kyiv Drama Theater.

In a letter to her sister Olha, dated 27 November 1911, Lesya Ukrainka mentioned her hard work on the drama "Forest Song": I wrote it during a very short period of time, 10–12 days, and I could not help writing.

My mood was invincible, but after it I was sick and devastated… Then I started rewriting it, and I did not think that would take far more time than the writing itself, – just yesterday I finished this hassle and now my neck and shoulders ache as if I were carrying sacks.In a letter to her mother, dated 2 January 1912, Lesya Ukrainka mentioned what had inspired her to write the play: It seems to me, that I just remembered our forests and longed for them.

And over Nechimne, I imagined her, as we spent the night there — you remember — with my uncle Lev Skulinsky.

I am fascinated by this image forever.Numerous alterations and additions to the original draft of the manuscript demonstrate Lesya Ukrainka's hard and persistent work on it.

The autograph consists of several text layers and reflects the various stages of its creation — from the initial to the final one.

Sometimes it resembles a detailed plan, that includes the content of each individual scene and combines poetic text with prose, demonstrating the work of the writer's imagination.

He talks to the Lost Babes and Rusalka, who reminds him of his love, reproaches him for betrayal.

Lukash makes a flute out of reeds, which is heard by Mavka, who previously talked to Forest Elf.

When Lukash is going to cut a birch with a knife, Mavka stops him and asks not to offend his sister.

Lukash is surprised to have met such an unusually lush and beautiful young lady in the forest and asks who she is.

Mavka tries to understand all these laws with her loving heart, but such small worries are alien to her, she lives in the world of beauty.

Mavka suffers, and the Mermaid soothes her but warns against love, which can ruin a free soul.

He asks her to remember her freedom, the beauty of nature, and to free herself from the shackles of human love.

Lukash treats Mavka rudely and shouts to his mother that he wants to send elders to Kylyna.