i am in the hallway   young again and clean   strain my neck and ears and eyes   the carpet scratching at my knees      and she hopes that i can't hear her cry   and he tells her things will be all right   he'll work it out   he'll see it through   but we all know that that isn't true      and she went hungry today   but i ate   she always works it out that way   she's got a motion   she's got fever   i wish i could be that way someday      the blood will rish to blush me   and i'm warm if you touch me   a mouth and teeth and skin and eyes   but i don't think that they realize   how much i hear   how much i see   and how much is because of me   she was told that men don't leave with work to do   and mouths to feed      but i hear a sound   a slamming door   and i stare down at that hallway floor      and she went hungry today   but i ate   she always works it out that way   and she don't show me    just how lonely   i wish i could be that way someday      now i know i should be sleeping   but what if she needs me?   i won't go far   and when the morning comes she'll find me here   smile;   gather me up in her arms