hato, maaf karo

hato, maaf karo*

as we entered the eatery off zamzama
this child in rags, squatting in a corner
looked up with vacant eyes
'hato, maaf karo' a conditioned response

(if you give money to one beggar
swarms would appear from nowhere)

after an evening of fun and laughter
as we were leaving
saw the same juvenile
the same corner, the same poise
had a tough time
stifling the pavlovian response