The Tooth Fairy True Revealed (Folk-Horror Ballad)

[Verse 1] Crayon wings on printer paper Glitter teeth in scribbled hands Smiling crown and candy vapor Sleeping in your blanket land Underneath your pillow Picture Stick-figure with golden wand You press it down like little scripture Dreaming what she’s based upon [Chorus] But the tooth fairy True revealed Doesn’t shine She stains and steals Comes on all her clicking knees Through the vents and through the eaves Little jawbones in her braid Milk-teeth rattling like a rain You drew halos Soft and sweet She wears necklaces of teeth [Verse 2] On the screen A split-night window Left side: stars and pastel moons Right side: something in the shadow Dragging breath across the room Tiny hand You clutch the drawing Paper crumples Colors smear In her grin A white-gray thawing Rows of teeth she’s worn for years [Chorus] ‘Cause the tooth fairy True revealed Never once has paid or healed Runs her fingers through your dreams Counting every crack and seam Leaves a gap inside your smile Takes the roots and takes the bile You drew kindness You believed She threads wishbones through your sleep [Bridge] Who told you she loved your laughter? Who said this was heaven’s chore? (shh) Old folk tales and softer chapters Trimmed the rot and hid the gore See the bones behind the bedtime See the eyes behind the lace On the left Your colored outline On the right Her real face [Chorus] Now the tooth fairy True revealed Turns your innocence to meal Tucks your portrait in her sleeve As another child believes Little gaps along your gum All the gifts you thought would come You drew angels Fell asleep She drew circles in your teeth [Outro] Crayon wings on torn-out paper Fading on your bedroom floor [whispered] Close your eyes I’ll come back later You don’t need them anymore