Around the time of Friday prayers, beggars flock the streets of Dhaka, demanding a share of the goodwill of the wealthy mosque goers.

.

Friday beggars

Red gaping mouths;

the beggars are out –

paan-spitting, nail splitting,

scratching hard tinted glass.

Options are simple – using pathos or fear

keep people’s attention long enough so they hear –

long enough so they see; so they must cast a glance

on lives torn to shreds by choices or chance.

Aggressively pleading,

demanding,

despair.

Discomfort,

cold shivers,

in the dirty, hot air