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.

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