The Answer

How deep?

How far?

I hear breathing

Where the echoes are

I dropped one word into the dark Waited to hear where it

would land It came back wearing someone’s voice Saying things I never

said The walls grew wet,

the air grew thin A low vibration pulled me in I called

again to test the sound Something underneath called out

It knows the words Before they leave It knows the parts I

never speak

Every time I call,

something answers Every time I fall,

it comes closer I thought the voice below was mine Now it’s

saying what I hide Every time I call,

something answers Pulling every shadow from the water I came looking for

an echo But something answers

The surface vanished overhead The light became a silver thread I felt

the pressure in my chest Then heard it whisper,

“There is depth left” It knew the shape of every scar Knew

why I came and who we are I asked it how it

knew my name It laughed and asked me just the same

It knows the words Before they leave It knows the parts I

never speak

Maybe it was always waiting Maybe I was always near

Maybe depth is only distance Made from everything we fear If I

follow where it’s calling If I let the darkness in Will I

finally meet the answer Or become the voice beneath?

Who are you?

You know

Where are you?

Below

Let me out

Come in

Say my name Again

Every time I call,

something answers Every time I fall,

it comes closer I thought the voice below was mine Now it’s

speaking from inside Every time I call,

something answers Pulling every shadow from the water I went searching for

an echo

Now I am the answer

From somewhere deeper— Another voice calls