By Roseline Mgbodichinma Anya Okorie Stress warning: The following contains material relating to mental health struggles and trauma in no particular order, which may be triggering to victims and survivors They say when depression Signatures the brain It means something from hell has watermarked perception They take her to the sanctuary, Where there are bells to deafen the voices echoing in her head. Rosary on the neck, holy water sprinkled For Satan to slip and fall. She is murmuring & speaking of lost times Her eyes are twitching in wonder, calling out every secret Said her sister’s husband struggled to kiss her womanhood Said her other sister’s body is restitution for lost men - Always turning fetuses into blood.
They need her to shut up so, they spiral into unknown tongues Flog fear into her till she wails as a sign of answered prayers, Decades later, she is found picking dirt off the streets - Sucking on rotten fruit, she is more silent now The sisters drive by after every sermon to throw her a loaf In this place, therapy means giving a dime To a stranger who shouldn’t give a damn about your business Better she sleeps facing the clouds Than wear a hospital robe - for something so metaphysical
6 Comments
This was an interesting read and provided the uncomfortable insight into the topic that is mental health in Africa.
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Kharimat
8/5/2021 07:29:37 am
This is an intriguing post.
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Ayodeji Adetokunbo
8/5/2021 11:31:01 am
This is a reality of the state we find ourselves in Africa. A situation where standing and speaking the truth seems like a crime.
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Rahmah
12/5/2021 03:08:34 pm
As always, Nigeria and Africa at large does not want to take mental health serious. We need more enlightenment on the topic and that's why people struggling with one thing or the other will not speak, for fear of being put through to this 'solutions' that are certainly more damaging than the mental health illness itself.
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Chioma Azubuike
31/5/2021 04:47:22 pm
I love this poem!
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Alexandra
1/6/2021 02:30:09 am
I think what the writer is trying to unveil is how our society is been caged with lies nobody wants to hear truth because of its aftermath.
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