[Verse 1] Sit cross-legged, carpet stains, twenty eyes on me Finger on the page, teeth clenched quietly “On Monday he ate” I breathe and smile wide While my pulse counts numbers they won’t hear inside Glue sticks dry, ceiling leaks when it rains I’m paid in patience, paid in migraines I read the words slow, keep my voice soft and neat While my jaw locks down on every swallowed scream [Hook 1] Turn the page Count to ten Swallow it Smile again [Chorus 1] Read it clean, read it calm, don’t let it show The hunger grows where they’ll never know I feed the lie with a teacher’s grin While something ugly crawls under my skin [Verse 2] Admin emails say “do more with less” Crayons rationed like some sick test Broken chairs, promises thin I patch the gaps with my discipline “On Tuesday” I pause, the room hums low Budget cut like a guillotine slow I trace the pictures, bright and kind While I grind my teeth through the back of my mind [Hook 2] Soft voice Hard thoughts Hold the line Bite it off [Chorus 2] Read it clean, read it calm, don’t let it show The hunger grows where they’ll never know I feed the lie with a teacher’s grin While something ugly crawls under my skin [Verse 3] Parents glare like I chose this mess I mop the floor of their expectations Staples jam, copy machine screams I teach in fragments and caffeine dreams “On Wednesday" my knuckles ache From holding peace for the children’s sake I am the dam, I am the seam I am the pause between want and scream [Hook 3] Inside It chews Page by page I do too [Chorus 3] Read it clean, read it calm, don’t let it show The hunger grows where they’ll never know I feed the lie with a teacher’s grin While something ugly crawls under my skin [Verse 4] Thursday drags like chalk on teeth Fire drill sirens shred my sleep “On Thursday” my voice stays steady While my hands shake, never ready Paperwork stacks, no aide today One adult holding twenty storms at bay I count breaths like contraband Holding chaos in open hands [Hook 4] Inside voice Outside calm Clamp it shut Hold the bomb [Chorus 4] Read it clean, read it calm, don’t let it show The hunger grows where they’ll never know I feed the lie with a teacher’s grin While something ugly crawls under my skin [Bridge] Friday comes, the story ends The caterpillar sleeps, pretends Metamorphosis sells hope neat But mine’s deferred to next week I close the book, the room exhales I stack the blocks, I tally fails I love these kids, that’s the sin I carry the weight so they don’t feel it [Final Chorus] Read it clean, read it calm, keep it contained I starve the storm so they’re unafraid I feed the lie with a teacher’s grin I lock the door on the beast within [Outro SCREAMED] COUNT THE DAYS CUT THE FUNDS SMILE PRETTY BITE YOUR TONGUE STORY TIME DON’T YOU DARE LET IT SHOW LET IT TEAR HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY I STILL READ.
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