Wrong Voice

sleep now, the dark runs deep

something moves beneath the sleep

hear that voice, so soft, so clear

sounds like someone standing near

count backward from the edge of sleep

where every promise has a price to keep

a voice comes through with a stolen name

and every answer sounds the same

something is wrong with the way time moves

the seconds crawl but the hours lose

a familiar laugh from an unfamiliar throat

a lullaby with a hand around the note

run, run, the night runs faster

every breath brings the thing closer after

eyes wide open, still asleep

something knows what the mind can keep

lock the door, kill the light

hold that breath till morning bites

say the name, hear it back

same voice speaking through the black

there’s a childlike tune in the back of the head

singing the words that were never said

each little note pulls another thread

each little step brings the waking dead

the path runs out where the black begins

the same lost face wears a different skin

a voice says wake up from deep below

but waking is the one place it won’t let go

run, run, the night runs faster

every breath brings the thing closer after

eyes wide open, still asleep

something knows what the mind can keep

lock the door, kill the light

hold that breath till morning bites

say the name, hear it back

same voice speaking through the black

the whole world warps, the colors bleed

the nightmare grows what the mind can’t feed

the exit moves when the feet get near

the voice gets sweet when the end draws near

the last thing heard before the fall

is a voice from inside saying, that’s not all.

wake up

wake up

wake up

wrong voice.