They pass by slowly,hands held out
smiling eyed and greedy mouthed'
back up against the wall I plead
in tearful confusion--I can't pay.

and in the corners of my mind they stand
tight lipped,pale eyed.
wavering fingers point with scorn
and they whisper,whisper,whisper.

"Who is the guilty one ?" they say
"any less than I !" they cry
"and you !" their fingers point"can't pay!"
and they whisper,whisper,whisper.

The hungry sit in silent rows
the wailing old man baby grows
too weak to **** the empty breast
too weak to cry above the rest.

It's mother, old beyond her years,
her children drowning in her tears,
won't live to see another day
and why? well she can't pay.

They pass by slowly hands held out
hollow eyed and hungry mouthed
back up against the wall they plead
in tearful confusion -- they can't pay .