"Homeless, down in the corner" - "If downtrodden by life" , by Erik Pevernagie, oil on canvas,100 x 1O0 cm)

Let them not be denied a few crumbs of attention or merely a 'twinkle of happiness' if, through the insidious intrusion of reality, the unattended cannot receive a 'lease of happiness.'

Between shortage and absolute poverty, an ocean of shades and gradations do emerge on the scale of deficiency. Be that as it may, each stage must find a mode to leave a door ajar for the sun to peer in and human warmth to radiate.

"To be rich or not to be poor, that is the question."

Poverty may mean hunger or homelessness, or it may stand for a mental or emotional deficiency.

If it signifies hunger or homelessness, it may represent a lethal hazard, when it bears the taint of starvation.

When it implies a mental or emotional deficiency, it may be stained by the black mark of depression or hopelessness.

If poverty concerns a shortage of money or maintenance, it relates to inequality, dependence, and inferiority.

It is true; poverty has to be contextualized, in line with place and time.

"Relative poverty" is dependent on the social context, measured by the proportion of median income and the percentage of the population, and refers to social inclusion and equality of opportunity.

If poverty means deprivation of basic human needs, like food, safe drinking water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, and healthcare, we have to face "absolute poverty."

Since "poverty is the parent of revolution" (Aristotle), the governments must know that the gap between rich and poor is screaming, and they have to fill it.

For Rainer Maria Rilke, we should take a more considerable effort to build up the spiritual poverty: "If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches."

We could say that man is rich or poor according to what he "is," not according to what he "has." William Butler Yeats has no money, but has his dreams: "I, being poor, have only my dreams." Bertolt Brecht sees something positive in poverty: "Poverty makes you sad as well as wise." Woody Allen prefers to have money for financial reasons: "Money is better than debt, if only for economic purposes.

Phenomenon: Relative and absolute poverty

Factual starting point of the picture: Homeless on the pavement