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) - 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
- User favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek.
Offline)
Comments7
Wonderful words Neville, times passed mean so much to us.
Andy
.. that they do Andy .. but I tend to live for now and use words as the foundation and framework on which to recall them ..
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.
I assure you she could get whatever she wanted .. and an awful lot of what she didn't too
I swoon at just the thought of any 'ardour' with her. lol.
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…
........ ha, cheers Bobby O ............. make mine a dubble in a durty glass 🙂
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
I am more than honoured by your visit & by your friendship Dan .. thank you so much .. N
Dear Neville,
Very interesting and informative. Your comments helped in understanding your well crafted poem.
Thank you for sharing.
Laura 🙏🏻
a truly stunning visit bless you dear Laura .. 🌻:) x
I need more of these, Neville.
I'll see what I can do you old dog ..
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...)
................... amen you took the words write out of my pen so you did sir
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