Inside Voice

(he knows, he knows)

There's a voice in the house.

Been here longer than me.

Talks all day.

Knows my file by heart.

You can hear him now —

he's the one underneath.

He reviews everything.

The way I stood.

The thing I said one summer.

He keeps the tape.

He plays the tape.

(he plays the tape)

So here's the test

I finally ran:

I wrote down what he says,

and read it out loud

like it was about

someone I love—

I couldn't finish it.

Couldn't read one page

about anyone I love.

So why is it fine

when it's about me?

Inside voice.

Use your inside voice.

Nobody talks to family like that.

Not in this house.

(not in this house)

He says it's honesty.

He says somebody has to say it.

(somebody has to say it)

No.

Somebody said it to a kid once,

and I memorized the tone.

It was never honesty.

It was the loudest voice

in an old room.

And I've been carrying the room.

Inside voice.

New rule in the house.

You can stay — you're family too —

but you use my tone now.

Talk to me

like I'd talk to them.

Inside voice.

Inside voice.

Easy.

Easy.

That's it.

That's the voice.