Begging Is An Art

Inspired

its hard to miss her insistent stare
she often begs at a busy market square
holding a tarnished kind of bowl
aloud, she calls out to each soul

and what makes her so strange?
is her manner of pleading for spare change
in a demeanour so hard and haughty
she accosts the dumb and the literati

kind sir toss me a coin or two will you?
a note or a pound or a dollar will do
You look like a man with very fine ways
please please, do save your soul today

and to each passerby, it was the same
a request so repetitive, raw and lame
of her pushiness they've all had their fill
no subtlety or tact in her begging skill

so each man throws a penny her way
for her to step aside and just move away
so brazenly does she play her part
begging is begging, yet still such an art

and here is what she fails to understand
when for alms she does extend her hand
people like to give from a will of their own
not pressured into it in such public zones

whether it be to save some from starvation
or another's conscience from self-flagellation
charity nowadays needs clever marketing
it needs great work to be good at begging

Author's Note

;)

Thanks for looking in on this one

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

Back in the day I used to busk... I used to drum and sing under a bridge crossing I did it for fun but also the acoustics were grand and it was a good place to practise. on a good day it payed for a decent night at the bars:) the flip side of being the beggar is seeing the faces of the ones passing by how they reacted to my five gallon bucket seat bass drum and snare some people would occasionally come along and play there guitars violins or horns and the pool of players would grow and to see the passing faces that tried to not look at ours was interesting... I often pondered what they were thinking were they embarrassed? or just angry? did our presence feel an afrontory? but then others would stay and sing along or clap! its funny to be on the other side of begging:/ now days my busking years have gone I find myself tipping everyone the convenience store clerks the drug store cashiers the grocery workers everyone cause the need for help and appreciation is so great these days

[AJNJ]

Coming to know you in recent days, I have come to understand that you're a very kind and compassionate soul. The kinds that think about everyone before even themselves and I truly believe they're an asset to our society!

This poem was inspired by something I noticed in the past few years....a sharp contrast in what I observed abroad with what I witness daily back home. The people asking for charity in the West were most roadside singers and Ayers and some of them sang so beautifully, it was hard to believe they weren't professionals. I can just imagine you enthralling the public! That is the kind of Art in begging I was referring too. Back here, it is just pure insistence and crowding which gets vexing after a time. Something needs to be done to address this situation urgently.

Thanks a ton for sharing your thoughts dear sir. It means much!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I tend to be skeptical of panhandlers, smile and move on by...but this woman's poetry was enough to get me to reach into my pockets and pull out some coin.
love this piece.
we know this woman well, just from reading your verses...then we reach into our purses.
j.

[AJNJ]

Yes we all know that woman sir....I am a beggar too...for appreciation and understanding. Thank you for such a thoughtful and understanding review. You're appreciated very much.

[Eilis]

No matter how many times I've been duped, I am still a giver when I can be. I have met some odd ones on the streets and people who seem not to be gracious for what they are given, but I try to think of what I would feel like in their position and just let go of a bit of the material blessing I've been allowed to hold on to. Have been poor myself, so I remember the desperation.

But also, I'm not so naive as to believe that everyone reaching a hand out as much in need as they might wish to portray. It's just difficult to know sometimes. And also I think life itself can make people callous and careless, mercenary even, and make them do things that don't make sense to us when we are comfortable and fed and not suffering with addictions just to maintain sanity. Homelessness is a scourge on humanity. It shouldn't be a problem when there is so much superfluous wealth.

You shine a light on one perspective and lifestyle, and there is truth in it for sure. It's just difficult to know sometimes how to respond when someone we encounter triggers a response in us. The image I carry in my head everyday is that of Christ delivering his sermon on the mount then his long walk to Golgotha carrying his burden, and I try to juxtapose my response to this and see what I am actually losing if I give.

A thoughtful work from you, Pestonjee. And one that has certainly started a dialogue. Not much more a poet can hope for than that.

[AJNJ]

Thank you very much for your thoughtful review Ms. Eilis! This subject is of great significance in Christian thoughts. Matthew 25: Verses 35-40 are of special interest. Where he says, I was hungry and you fed me and that whenever you did this for the least of your brothers & sisters you did it for me. Charity is one of our mainstays. Yet nowadays, there is such a fine line, a fine balance in understanding when a cause is genuine and when it's not. Yet, this world is so full of smoke and haze that it gets very difficult and confusing to tell the real from the fake. That's why I especially appreciate your very clear approach, close your eyes and picture Christ with his burden, weigh it all in a balance and try to do good in good faith. I totally subscribe to this.

Thanks again and every word you said here is appreciated much!

[Neville]

this is not a pretty poem, I think it is a great poem though regardless of your motivation for crafting it.. I was once homeless (many years ago now) and although I never asked for money (because I always had enough, except for shelter) I have become aware, mainly through my work, that here in the UK most beggars are not necessarily hungry, but are begging so as to fund an addiction of one form or another.. Elsewhere around the world, hunger is a much bigger issue and often the prime motivator.. I know when I was working in Africa (the Gambia & Senegal) I got so tired of the boiled rice I was given every morning, I used to bag it up and hand it to the outstretched hands along the road.. They used to call me Toobab the rice man....

[AJNJ]

The points you've made here are great sir. The motivations for begging are so different in the first world and in the third world. Yet both are such a cause for concern. I get swarmed here sometimes and this poem was inspired by one such an altercation with an assertive beggar on one hand and the countless people who approach one for donations with carefully crafted advertising of their cause. Set me thinking on the contrast and that begging is an art.

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on this piece, dear sir. Every word is appreciated.

[Neville]

and welcome you are my friend..

[.]

I can certainly relate to this theme, Monsieur P! When normality reigns in my city, I find myself often accosted by such ruthless beggars as you have described. Being kind of heart, i always do my best to hand over some Euros when I can, but it becomes annoying when the begging gets more persistent and even aggressive. It makes one question their generosity in the face of such tactless behaviour. I guess some people, whatever their situation, just lack a respectable level of decency, dignity and humility. Sometimes desperation and a ruthless need for self preservation takes over the mind and soul and greed sets in. Such persons I do eventually avoid like the plague. Truth or fiction, your poem is very well written and shines a light on a very particular form of behaviour. You are correct that there is an art to begging, but there is also an art to being thankful and humble in return. Your rhyme and flow here is spot on, as usual, and I enjoyed this piece of satire very much. Fine writing, dear Pestonjee! :))

[AJNJ]

Good Evening Madame!

I'm thrilled you enjoyed this piece today. With all the charities and NGOs the world over excelling in advertising and selling their cause, I wonder why these pushy individuals dont learn from it. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain. Sometimes it becomes very jarring and as you know me, I cannot help commenting on something I can't digest.

I recently notice some such objectionable activities and incidents and hence this very inspired poem! Never a dull moment in this world.

I really appreciate you as a generous and kind lady but please don't let anyone ever take advantage of that. Please be careful as the world both real and virtual is teeming with sharks.

Thanks wholeheartedly once again for such a thoughtful and gracious review on another of my humble scribbles. You are appreciated ver much. 😊🌷