Wow FaSha! You know, I had to read this a few times. My initial thought was that, the rent wasn't paid, because the people were homeless. I thought the coughing was another homeless person, and was the rooster. I went back and read the first stanza, and there was the confirmation about the building! Then, I imagined a run-down building where these people lived, and the images that played in my mind. What a place? What an existence? The last two lines blew me away! Your work is very profound FaSha. Whew, thanks for the poetically pleasing mental rollercoater! LOVED IT!!!
