The Hunger Wears My Face

[Verse 1]
I found you in the bathroom glass
With my same split lip, my same tired eyes
You leaned toward the door before I moved
And asked the empty room to let you inside

[Pre-Chorus]
You wear my face like a borrowed coat
You learned my hands, you learned my name
I want your warmth; you want it faster
You run ahead and take the blame

[Chorus]
The hunger wears my face
It reaches where I cannot go
It begs you for a place to stay
While I’m still learning how to ask you slow
I love the mouth that calls you mine
I hate the teeth beneath the plea
Come close, come close—then hold me back
From the thing that learned to look like me

[Verse 2]
At dinner, you sat in my chair
Smiled with my dimples, swallowed your words
You touched their sleeve; I felt the touch
A tender little theft nobody heard

[Pre-Chorus]
You bring home scraps of being wanted
A kind reply, a hand held still
Then press them deep beneath my ribs
And tell me love is something to fill

[Chorus]
The hunger wears my face
It reaches where I cannot go
It begs you for a place to stay
While I’m still learning how to ask you slow
I love the mouth that calls you mine
I hate the teeth beneath the plea
Come close, come close—then hold me back
From the thing that learned to look like me

[Bridge]
If you kiss me, kiss the wound awake
If you leave, don’t feed the shape I make
I can feel it pacing in my skin
I can hear it practice saying, “Let me in”

[Breakdown]
Not my hands
Not my voice
Not my choice
Still it reaches
Still it reaches

[Final Chorus]
The hunger wears my face
But it is not the whole of me
I’ll let you see the shaking hands
And ask for love without its teeth
I love you fierce; I love you hurt
I won’t make you the cure I need
Stay if you can, and if you can’t
I’ll call myself back piece by piece

[Outro]
In the mirror, I hold my ground
It mouths your name; I turn around