Tanka - Tanka

Part of my recent African experience.... Tanka Tanka is said to mean 'One step at a time'

 Tanka - Tanka

 

The confused

Frail and elderly gent

Was dragged from his rattan bed

In the early hours

Then thrown into the back

Of a heaving, hungry and impatient

Black ambulance

Parked outside the compound

 

This was the result of having pissed

In his daughters wardrobe

On three consecutive nights and

Refusing to eat the fish benachin

Or piece of fruit she had previously

Prepared for him with so much love

Or so she said

 

Several other souls were taken

That night to Tanka-Tanka too

Where each was injected with strong

White man medicine

Which served to wipe out

The syphilitic spirochete and the

HIV virus in a single blow

 

Until that single moment

Both pathogens had previously fought

To gain control of the already compromised

Nervous systems of their unknowing hosts

Three quarters of an hour later

The confused

Frail and elderly gent

Was well and truly dead

 

His daughter and her scheming husband

Together with their five children

Would later inherit and share between them

The sum total of the old fella’s grand estate

Which comprised of the following

 

The old gents rattan bed and rotting mattress

A wooden stool

An ancient leather bucket

A pink plastic bowl

And a total of twenty five dalasi 

So was it worth it

I asked the old gents daughter

Of course it was, she replied

This is Africa my friend.......

 

 

 

Author's Note

Tanka Tanka is the local name given to West Africa's only psychiatric hospital and where I previously spent several months working as a volunteer.......

Reviews

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Terrible but sad truths of what humans do to one another for greed of worldly possessions- sickness of mind is unlike any other kind- not only in Africa but all over - mental illness doesn’t have a place age race or time- well written🌹

[Neville]

Thank you so much & you are absolutely right as far as mental ill health is concerned.......N

[‘Thoughts In Time’🌹]

Yes have studied a bit and done a course- want to go deeper into it so much help needed out there- 🌹

[Neville]

Good to hear & so very true....

[AYVID N]

Having grown up in East Africa, I understand the ethos here so completely. Stools, buckets, bowls, add to them discarded rubber toys, polythene covers, old clothes...all such a loot, so precious. Yet, I love East Africa so much.

[Neville]

Me too..Thank you for stopping by & sharing your insight.......N

[Samuel Dickens]

What a sad truth, but I guess when you don't have anything, anything at all becomes gold. Bless you for your noble efforts in such a place.

[Neville]

Hey Samuel my friend, I truly appreciate the fact you have taken time to consider these words of mine. As you can see, they were uploaded quite some time ago now and despite over 200 views to date very few have lingered long enough to leave an opinion. Hope to return either later this or early next year......................N

[Neville]

Oops sorry Samuel, forgot to agree with your other expressed view above which was spot on......

[Samuel Dickens]

Having grown up in poverty, my heart is always with the poor and downtrodden. The acts of kindness I benefited from back then have never been forgotten. There is a great score-keeper, Neville, and your name is high on the card.

[Neville]

Now I'm truly lost for words....Cheers my friend, cheers indeed..

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow Nev you are in a dark mood at present. Again an emotive and well observed piece of social enlightenment.