Performance Art Living Installation (I)  The Beggar

Authors Note: These performance arts were performed by me today and these poems are a true reflection of the events

The Beggar


Another trip to the big city
Time for social experimentation
In my electric wheelchair
Positioned my self in a doorway
Of an empty run down retail shop
Pulled my trousers up exposing
Both of my stumps
Place my take out coffee cup
On the ground in front of me
With the plastic lid still on
I sat there with head bowed
There was a succession of reactions
And differences in each one
Many people put coins on top
Of my cup lid I said thank you
Many people drew daggers
Letting me know I was disgusting
Just by their facial expressions
Others walked passed head facing
Straight ahead, no deviation
People on a mission if the mission
Is to ignore the legless beggar
Many pointers and laughers
There were two out of the ordinary
Firstly a woman who put money
On top of my cup and asked
If she could feel my stumps
Feel the sexual tension on the
Street! I said “Fuck Off!” She
Did just that but took back
Her money before leaving
With a face like thunder
The second was more difficult
He thrust a £20:00 note into
My hand shook my hand and
Said “Thank you for your service”
I replied, “I lost these to diabetes”
“Give me my money back ya cunt!”
I gave him his money back
By blowing my nose on it
And asking him a telling question
“Now who’s the cunt?”