diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 15ff80d..4673391 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [dependencies]
+allsorts = "0.10"
 anyhow = "1"
 bytemuck = "1"
 canary_types = { path = "crates/types" }
+lyon = "1"
 parking_lot = "0.12"
 wasmtime = "0.38"
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index b743a15..dbb344f 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 pub use canary_types::*;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 
+pub mod text;
+
 /// Low-level script API callbacks.
 pub trait ScriptAbi {
     fn start_draw(&self);
@@ -181,11 +183,14 @@ impl<T: ScriptAbi> ScriptInstance for WasmtimeScript<T> {
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct SimpleScriptAbi {
     draw_cmds: Mutex<Vec<DrawCommand>>,
+    text: text::DummyText,
 }
 
 impl ScriptAbi for SimpleScriptAbi {
     fn start_draw(&self) {
-        self.draw_cmds.lock().clear();
+        let mut lock = self.draw_cmds.lock();
+        lock.clear();
+        self.text.draw(&mut lock);
     }
 
     fn draw_indexed(&self, vertices: &[MeshVertex], indices: &[MeshIndex]) {
diff --git a/src/text.rs b/src/text.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d88f83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/text.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+use super::{DrawCommand, MeshIndex, MeshVertex};
+
+use allsorts::binary::read::ReadScope;
+use allsorts::cff::CFF;
+use allsorts::font::{GlyphTableFlags, MatchingPresentation};
+use allsorts::font_data::FontData;
+use allsorts::glyph_position::{GlyphLayout, TextDirection};
+use allsorts::outline::OutlineBuilder;
+use allsorts::pathfinder_geometry::{line_segment::LineSegment2F, vector::Vector2F};
+use allsorts::tables::{glyf::GlyfTable, loca::LocaTable};
+use allsorts::tables::{FontTableProvider, SfntVersion};
+use allsorts::{tag, Font};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+const TEXT_SCALE: f32 = 0.00005;
+
+pub struct GlyphCache {
+    glyphs: HashMap<u16, CachedGlyph>,
+}
+
+impl GlyphCache {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            glyphs: Default::default(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn write_glyph(&mut self, builder: &mut impl OutlineBuilder, index: u16) {
+        let mut sink = OutlineSink::new();
+        builder.visit(index, &mut sink).unwrap();
+        let path = sink.builder.build();
+
+        use lyon::tessellation::*;
+        let mut geometry: VertexBuffers<MeshVertex, MeshIndex> = VertexBuffers::new();
+        let mut tessellator = FillTessellator::new();
+
+        tessellator
+            .tessellate_path(
+                &path,
+                &FillOptions::default(),
+                &mut BuffersBuilder::new(&mut geometry, |vertex: FillVertex| {
+                    let position = vertex.position() * TEXT_SCALE;
+                    let position = canary_types::Vec2 {
+                        x: position.x,
+                        y: position.y,
+                    };
+
+                    MeshVertex {
+                        position,
+                        color: canary_types::Color::WHITE,
+                    }
+                }),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        self.glyphs.insert(
+            index,
+            CachedGlyph {
+                vertices: geometry.vertices,
+                indices: geometry.indices,
+            },
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct CachedGlyph {
+    vertices: Vec<MeshVertex>,
+    indices: Vec<MeshIndex>,
+}
+
+pub struct DummyText {
+    vertices: Vec<MeshVertex>,
+    indices: Vec<MeshIndex>,
+}
+
+impl Default for DummyText {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        // if you're looking at this for whatever reason, forgive the mess,
+        // Arabic rendering is misbehaving
+        let script = tag::ARAB;
+        let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/TTF/Hack-Regular.ttf");
+        let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/noto-cjk/NotoSansCJK-Regular.ttc");
+        let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/misc/ter-u16n.otb");
+        let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/noto/NotoNastaliqUrdu-Regular.ttf");
+        // let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/noto/NotoSansArabic-Regular.ttf");
+        // let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/noto/NotoKufiArabic-Regular.ttf");
+        // let buffer = include_bytes!("/usr/share/fonts/noto/NotoNaskhArabic-Regular.ttf");
+        let buffer = buffer.as_slice();
+        let scope = ReadScope::new(&buffer);
+        let font_file = scope.read::<FontData<'_>>().unwrap();
+        let provider = font_file.table_provider(0).unwrap();
+        let mut font = Font::new(provider).unwrap().unwrap();
+
+        let text = "نص حكيم له سر قاطع وذو شأن عظيم مكتوب على ثوب أخضر ومغلف بجلد أزرق";
+        let glyphs = font.map_glyphs(text, script, MatchingPresentation::NotRequired);
+
+        let mut cache = GlyphCache::new();
+
+        if font.glyph_table_flags.contains(GlyphTableFlags::CFF)
+            && font.font_table_provider.sfnt_version() == tag::OTTO
+        {
+            let cff_data = font.font_table_provider.read_table_data(tag::CFF).unwrap();
+            let mut cff = ReadScope::new(&cff_data).read::<CFF<'_>>().unwrap();
+
+            println!("warming cache with {} glyphs", font.num_glyphs());
+            for index in 0..font.num_glyphs() {
+                cache.write_glyph(&mut cff, index);
+            }
+        } else if font.glyph_table_flags.contains(GlyphTableFlags::GLYF) {
+            let loca_data = font.font_table_provider.read_table_data(tag::LOCA).unwrap();
+            let loca = ReadScope::new(&loca_data)
+                .read_dep::<LocaTable<'_>>((
+                    usize::from(font.maxp_table.num_glyphs),
+                    font.head_table().unwrap().unwrap().index_to_loc_format,
+                ))
+                .unwrap();
+            let glyf_data = font.font_table_provider.read_table_data(tag::GLYF).unwrap();
+            let mut glyf = ReadScope::new(&glyf_data)
+                .read_dep::<GlyfTable<'_>>(&loca)
+                .unwrap();
+
+            println!("warming cache with {} glyphs", font.num_glyphs());
+            for index in 0..font.num_glyphs() {
+                cache.write_glyph(&mut glyf, index);
+            }
+        } else {
+            panic!("no glyf or CFF table");
+        }
+
+        let lang_tag = Some(tag::URD);
+        let features = allsorts::gsub::Features::Mask(allsorts::gsub::FeatureMask::all());
+        let kerning = true;
+        let infos = font
+            .shape(glyphs, script, lang_tag, &features, kerning)
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let direction = TextDirection::RightToLeft;
+        let vertical = false;
+        let mut layout = GlyphLayout::new(&mut font, &infos, direction, vertical);
+        let positions = layout.glyph_positions().unwrap();
+
+        let mut mesh = Self {
+            vertices: Vec::new(),
+            indices: Vec::new(),
+        };
+
+        let mut xcur = 0;
+        let mut ycur = 0;
+        for (glyph, position) in infos.iter().zip(&positions) {
+            let xpos = xcur + position.x_offset;
+            let ypos = ycur + position.y_offset;
+            xcur += position.hori_advance;
+            ycur += position.vert_advance;
+
+            println!("({}, {}): {:#?}", xpos, ypos, glyph);
+
+            // TODO refactor
+            let glyph = cache.glyphs.get(&glyph.glyph.glyph_index).unwrap();
+            let voff = mesh.vertices.len() as MeshIndex;
+            let xoff = (xpos as f32) * TEXT_SCALE;
+            let yoff = (ypos as f32) * TEXT_SCALE;
+
+            for v in glyph.vertices.iter() {
+                let x = v.position.x + xoff + 0.5;
+                let y = v.position.y + yoff + 0.5;
+                mesh.vertices.push(MeshVertex {
+                    position: canary_types::Vec2 { x, y },
+                    color: v.color,
+                });
+            }
+
+            for i in glyph.indices.iter() {
+                mesh.indices.push(i + voff);
+            }
+        }
+
+        mesh
+    }
+}
+
+impl DummyText {
+    pub fn draw(&self, cmds: &mut Vec<DrawCommand>) {
+        cmds.push(DrawCommand::Mesh {
+            vertices: self.vertices.clone(),
+            indices: self.indices.clone(),
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct OutlineSink {
+    builder: lyon::path::path::Builder,
+}
+
+impl OutlineSink {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            builder: lyon::path::Path::builder(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn pf_line_to_lyon(line: &LineSegment2F) -> (lyon::geom::Point<f32>, lyon::geom::Point<f32>) {
+        (
+            Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&line.from()),
+            Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&line.to()),
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn pf_vector_to_lyon(v: &Vector2F) -> lyon::geom::Point<f32> {
+        lyon::geom::Point::<f32>::new(v.x(), v.y())
+    }
+}
+
+impl allsorts::outline::OutlineSink for OutlineSink {
+    fn move_to(&mut self, to: Vector2F) {
+        let to = Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&to);
+        self.builder.begin(to);
+    }
+
+    fn line_to(&mut self, to: Vector2F) {
+        let to = Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&to);
+        self.builder.line_to(to);
+    }
+
+    fn quadratic_curve_to(&mut self, control: Vector2F, to: Vector2F) {
+        let control = Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&control);
+        let to = Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&to);
+        self.builder.quadratic_bezier_to(control, to);
+    }
+
+    fn cubic_curve_to(&mut self, control: LineSegment2F, to: Vector2F) {
+        let (ctrl1, ctrl2) = Self::pf_line_to_lyon(&control);
+        let to = Self::pf_vector_to_lyon(&to);
+        self.builder.cubic_bezier_to(ctrl1, ctrl2, to);
+    }
+
+    fn close(&mut self) {
+        self.builder.close();
+    }
+}