The picture above is copyrighted to the British Museum
Standing on the corner a grotesque arresting sight
Twisted limbs protruding from his rags,
His wailing sends the pigeons in a hurried startled flight,
His clothing from some cast off hessian bags.
“Baksheesh” yells this woeful sight as people pass him by
Rattling coins to illustrate his words,
Then to reinforce it he emits a throaty sigh
Throwing curses at departing noisy birds.
Others with their begging bowls intrude upon his space
And he beats them with his stick and sends them on,
Locals pause to comment at this obvious disgrace
And they wish he’d take his begging bowl, be gone.
They know this wily beggar man he’s been there many years,
Rattling coins, confronting in his call,
And they fully understand it when he sheds deceptive tears,
They know he’s bluffing for it they won’t fall.
Tourist folk don’t understand will linger in surprise!
Throw their tourist dollars in his beggar bowl,
They’re angry at the locals unaware this beggar lies
Wonder if these local people have a soul?
But when the day is ended he will straighten twisted limb
He’ll discard his rags and take his new found wealth,
Praising all the gods of fortune with a loud and lusty hymn
With his friends he’ll toast the foreign tourists’ health.
“© Ian Grice 2008”
I know this poem will be confronting to some. True a sizable portion of the human race have very little of this world’s basic needs and deserve as much help as we can give them. However, when giving donations we should make sure it goes to those who have a genuine need. Take advice from those who understand the culture seeking to be benefited, for by so doing you will place your resources at the disposal of those who are really in need rather than those who look like they are in need. Ian
Comments
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Excellent
Such a well crafted write. So very creative and well expressed. Thank you for sharing.
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Awesome work!!!
Thank you for telling it like it is. I too have seen scenes very much like this one, where society's miscreants work as panhandlers on the street, supposedly to buy a meal or a room for the night, but instead, they use the donated money - given out of the kindness of an innocent, caring & sharing heart - for drugs. I look at it more from the point of view of a realist (I'm a social worker). When I see this, I can turn away without guilt, knowing there are options for these "poor, homeless, suffering" fools, such as programs in social services offering shelter, meals, clothing, medical treatment, medication, psychotherpay, job skills training, etc. All they neeed to do is call/ask for help. But the trouble is, most of these bums don't want help, they only want our money to buy more drugs/alcohol. They have no desire to help themselves improve their lives. I am not a cold-hearted person, but a realist. I will be the first one to help someone else in need, but only when the person is sincerely trying to help themselves. I love your poem, thank you for shedding light on the "evils" of society's "misfits" who live on the fringe, only trying to con innocent people out of their own hard-earned money!!! And I hope this message reaches those rascals out there on the street looking for an easy target (we know who you are). For anyone else who may genuinely be seeking rehabilitation, there are hotline numbers galore out there to help anyone in need; anywhere, anytime. That's where most of our tax dollars go, and that's where it needs to stop (not in some con artist's pocket). Peace Always, Cyn 
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Appropriate giving
Yes I'm also generous but having spent 30 years working in Asia, and having seen much the same principle at work on the streets of our western cities I've come to the same conclusion you have. Feed and give opportunities to those who have a genuine need. Don't waste precious resources on those who have the capability to look after themselves but refuse to do so.
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I get this Ian. Living in California, I've seen it all honestly. So much of it that the ONLY time I give is when there is a genuine need in my heart to give. I once gave a man my last twenty dollars, because he had a sign that said, no lie, need smokes and beer. He didn't lie, or appear pathetic, and I knew he would spend my hard earned money just the way he said he would.
The Desderata (sp?) states to never compare yourself to those around you, for there is always one who is worse off, and better off than you. I don't mind giving, and am extremely generous, but don't take it for granted.
I think you did a marvelous job portraying a not so nice aspect of being generous, and maybe next time, I shall not fall so easily for every heartbreaking story
Jin
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heartbreaking stories
It's hard to determine who's a genuine needy case and I can agree with sandybeaches its better to err on the generous side when giving. But its smarter to put resources to work where they're really needed and social workers who know those giving their heartbreak stories are better qualified to make a judgment on whether help is really needed or not.
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Giving is a gift in itself that does as much or more for the giver than it ever does for the reciever. Donations are often abused on every level. Giving is never a wrong way to go. You cannot know what is in the heart of another, but you can know what is in your own heart. Pam
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