Dembe’s Dust

Neville

Dembe’s 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 the new Twobab ..

 

 

  • Author: Neville (Offline Offline)
  • Published: June 25th, 2023 01:22
  • Comment from author about the poem: Based on real observations during 6 months as a volunteer at a West African psychiatric hospital .. Twobab 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 ..
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 20
  • Users favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek
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Comments +

Comments7

  • Goldfinch60

    Wonderful words Neville, times passed mean so much to us.

    Andy

    • Neville



      .. that they do Andy .. but I tend to live for now and use words as the foundation and framework on which to recall them ..

    • orchidee

      Good write N.
      I wish KP would spend time in West Africa. I will buy her a one-way ticket! heehee.
      She wouldn't help much though. She would only find out the botox clinic there. lol.

      • Neville



        I assure you she could get whatever she wanted .. and an awful lot of what she didn't too

        • orchidee

          I swoon at just the thought of any 'ardour' with her. lol.

        • Bobby O

          At first I was hoping it could be Dembe from the BLACKLIST but that was silly so I just read the peace and I liked the SHAke it has w that Sam Cooke let that night get away having his speak sorta like your poems speak. And there you go, even ALMOST next to Sam Cooke in a sentence might be pinnacle
          Mere mortals arrive do Bring It In Home Tio means let me tell you bout a place…

          • Neville



            ........ ha, cheers Bobby O ............. make mine a dubble in a durty glass 🙂

          • Poetic Dan

            The life you must of lived to find the words you do. To educate me while being taken on a trip of fact or imagination is always a wonderful inspiration!
            Thank you buddy

            • Neville


              I am more than honoured by your visit & by your friendship Dan .. thank you so much .. N

            • Laura🌻

              Dear Neville,
              Very interesting and informative. Your comments helped in understanding your well crafted poem.
              Thank you for sharing.

              Laura 🙏🏻

              • Neville



                a truly stunning visit bless you dear Laura .. 🌻:) x

              • Doggerel Dave

                I need more of these, Neville.

                • Neville



                  I'll see what I can do you old dog ..

                • L. B. Mek

                  Brilliant!
                  (experiences enrich our perspectives
                  add depths to our empathy pools
                  we ink what we see, but
                  outsider eyes
                  rarely truly see
                  or want, to see
                  that song and dance of defiance
                  in those now, cagelss veins
                  spitting that rotten feeling
                  like a Maya Angelou, daring poem
                  forced to witness Time change
                  and yet generation after generation
                  is still
                  dusting that crimson soaked dirt
                  forced to rely
                  on the generosity of those
                  that resemble the very people
                  who crippled a continent
                  and raped its lands, so the west
                  can sit on those high seats
                  deigning to offer their charity
                  while ignoring the very blood
                  on those hands, they keep
                  so pristine and washed clean...)

                  • Neville



                    ................... amen you took the words write out of my pen so you did sir



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