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