Bargaining with a Beggar

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It shouldn't be like this
it should be easy.
All this change,
jingling in my pocket,
is not a sign of wealth.
But when you hear it,
you call it 'spare.'
The desire to be generous
stemmed by lack of resources,
and cruel skepticism.
When what is offered is not enough,
there can be little difference between charity
and robbery.
Still.
It should be automatic,
like feeling for a lightswitch,
offsetting a lifetime of punishment.
Is food the goal,
or a ticket home,
or a pint, I can't tell.
What story today for 20p?
But whatever the pretence,
whatever its intentions,
I would have wasted it too.

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