Dembeβs Dust
Even as young Dembe
sweeps
a new days dust into
another,
even fresher pile ..
He turns
and takes a sly look
back across
a shoulder, spits and
twists
his face into a smile ..
Time for tea,
he asks through teeth
so white
one dare not stare at
them too long
for fear of going blind ..
Then leans
like some old man with
fingers crossed
atop his faithful broom
and waits
for an answer that he
wanted but ..
He knew would never
come since
Adame the house-girl
was always far too
busy darning
holes in prayer mats
and making
rice for new Toobab ..
Based on real observations during 6 months as a volunteer at a West African psychiatric hospital .. Toobab is the name still often given to white folk and stems from the old colonial days when locals would beg for money by asking for two bob or two shillings .. I lived in an old iron shipping container until offered a wooden hut by my hostess Hannah who took pity on me .. Adame was her housekeeper while Dembe just swept dust from here to there .. and spat .. well they all did actually .. N x
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Comments
Welcome back Nev and hope all went well for you and all others who choose to give a damn and make a difference out there in Albania or anywhere else for that matter to do something constructive and lasting.
Β Full respect to you and said others for doing so.
And your reality check poem says it all what others less fortunate, young and old alike have to go through day by day.
Be it West Africa or Albania.
We take so much for granted in our comfy lavish homes here in the affluent west.
With clean running water and bountiful food and wondering what on earth to spend and purchase with our disposable income on offer on things of hollow substance of unimportance, while others struggle to merely exist in their environment hoping/dreaming for a better quality of life.
To escape poverty and its odious apparatus.Β
You choose to make a difference Nev with your time and hats off to you for doing so my friend :)
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I don't deserve even half of the warm glow you just made me feel Shaun .. Cheers my very dear friend :)Β
In this verse you have painted a picture so real I can see it. You have also described the myriad emotions, mannerisms and bitter slyness of the working class worldwide. I have come to realise we are all slaves ( not that your characters are slaves here in the traditional sense..God forbid...then again God didn'tΒ forbid did he ( another time) ...we are all slaves to whatever elite systems we are ruled under.
Anyway that's my take...clearly I have a lot to say today ...and this is good!!! X
it seems you have spoilt me rotten .. thanks M .... a bloomin lot x
EXCELLT WRITE LINDA
thank you Linda :)Β