Hustle
Photo: Rodion Kutsaiev
He staggered toward her
His air heavy with desire and smoke
She strutted by the sidewalk
Supple, oil-skinned, bulb-eyed
And locked him in a stare.
Her next target
The alcohol will make it easier
There are mouths to feed.
His semen-stained briefs were strewn across the floor
She clung to him
A worshipper hungry for God
When he’d had another go, she smiled
God was pleased
And stretched her palms and received four smudged notes.
A thick wad yesterday because he was a potbellied politician
Wafer-thin today because he is a construction worker
Something is better than nothing.
She did not give a hoot about those that did not understand
Their torsos adorned with pride, tongues armed with scorn
That did not get that she never wanted this
That every night she strutted
entrance to endless wanton
She died anew with every owl song
curtain call to a well-orchestrated pantomime.
But mouths have to feed
Even bottomless seas and roofless skies
Wolf down the creations of God
And every night she strutted
Pebble cold
She knew it was her hustle that warmed the baby singing within her
And the extended family at sun-scorched Lashibi.
Tomorrow, cars will speed by.
God, be kind
She prayed as she oiled up before bed
May a protruding belly stick out in the streetlight
There are mouths to feed.
About the author
David Agyei-Yeboah is an artist from Accra, Ghana. He quit law school twice to pursue a creative degree. Now a first-class honours graduate of English and Theatre Arts from the University of Ghana, he has work published/forthcoming in many literary magazines. He was long-listed for The Totally Free Best of the Bottom Drawer Global Writing Prize 2021 from The Black Spring Press Group, UK. He was also shortlisted for Ursus Americanus, 2022 and was a finalist for Harbor Editions, 2022 (Small Harbor Publishing). David writes music and sings as he sees music as an extension of his poetry. Wish him luck as he attempts to record a debut album in 2023. He scarcely tweets @david_shaddai and posts mini covers on Instagram @davidshaddai.
