under our beds they lurk,
reaching for our dangling feet
inside our heads they feed,
preying on our fears and dreams
Mommy and Daddy told me I was just being silly,
that this was a “kid thing”,
and I would grow out of it

That these tea parties with the boogeyman
and these circus shows with Mr. Chuckles
were from the making of my own imagination

That these dealings with the devil,
where I’d give my blood and sell my soul,
piece by piece,
were all part of a game I played

a game that God was gone from;
a game that darkness thrived in;
a game that I began to love;

but when it was time for the dolls to get tucked away,
and the plastic rings to be tossed out,
they were still here,
these monsters that have always been here

tormenting, mocking, and scolding
I listened to them,
let them control every single move
every single decision

I liked it;
didn’t mind the way they’d whisper
and urged me to destroy
all of my making

The thrill of the hunt,
the kill,
the screams,
all drove me to want more

more and
more
and more

Back to my own blood,
I went
told them I wasn’t crazy
that all along my words were true

But Mommy and Daddy
said no
they didn’t want their little doll anymore

so Mommy and Daddy were gone,
just like that
I made them leave
made them cry
and reach
and bleed

Bye-Bye Mommy and Daddy,
“you’re in a better place now” and
“everything happens for a reason”

Thought I’d be lonely without my only family,
but only by blood were we joined

I’ve never been lonely
I’ll never be lonely
because my friends are here
my friends have always been here

these monsters
that I love
these monsters
that I am