ESwatini Beginnings: Unspoken Truths

Ezulwini valley in ESwatini (Swaziland) with beautiful mountains, trees and rocks in scenic green valley between Mbabane and Manzini cities. Traditional hut houses. Photo credit: Maurice Brand / Alamy Stock Photo
It’s 1972
I'm propped up against a wooden barn wall
Soaking up the Swazi sunlight 
Dancing off my sun-kissed freckles
Popping succulently tart gooseberries
Into my mouth
One by 
juicy one.
Yes, now 
My ears have picked
Up the comforting
Whinnying, braying
And snorting
Sounds of Shammy
His coat of beige
Grandad's favourite
Horse
Chomping hay
Leather saddles
Shiny bridles
Stirrups clanking
Photo credit: Luana Azevedo
Ahhh the aromoa of steaming
Hot horse manure
Tickles my nose
Mmmmm
I take a deep breath
Filling my lungs
Of this scent
That somehow seems
So very reassuring!

I'm mesmerized by these
Gentle giants
Looming way above
My five year old 
Little me
Nuzzling my 
Blond whispy haired head
With their
Big sloppy lips

I'm afraid of those
Over-sized teeth
As I offer up 
Sugar lumps 
From my wide open
Tiny hands
Oh and ...
Breathing in the sweet fragrance
Of Granny's roses
Deep apricot, lemon
And crimson hues
Africa Violets of luxurious shades:
Lilac, mauve and indigo rich
Colours that remind me of her
Photo credit: Jenn Pretious Koh
Timeless pictures fill my mind
Of rolling hills, prickly pine cones,
And lazy rivers winding
Through valleys sleeping
Rustling leaves, squeaky trees
As warm winds blow 
Camping trips with Grandad’s tent
A musty smell of military canvas
Coarse hemp rope and wooden dollies
Morning rusks and Rooibos tea
Around a campfire burning
Evening Milo and roasted marshmallows
As the Swazi sun slowly
Shuts his eyes

And Oh! the creepy crawlies
Hiding in dark tent corners
Safari drives
In Grandad's Landie
Elephant giants, agile impala
And humongous hippopotamus
Photo credit: classicdriver.com
Dad in Royal Swazi Police attire
Working long hard days
Investigating cases.
So much love he has for me
Beneath British walls built
Over millenia
Passed down from 
Ancestral lives
Sand-pit playing
Instruments clashing
At Tiny Tots
Mum's nursery school
Love expanding
Creative artist
Role modeling
Happy days and 
Carefree moments
A simpler time
When life was slow
And TV was a 
Thing unknown
Kerosene lamps
To light the way
In our tiny town
Of Goedgegen
Photo credit: knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu
Stark contrasts

A wealthy King
While many starving
A flailing nation
Poverty clutching
 King Sobhuza II of Swaziland. Photo credit: officeholidays.com
Yet broad-grinned smiles
And laughter
Echoing
Drums beating
Bodies swaying
Feet connecting
To scorched red
Earth
Cowrie-shell anklets
Shikker-shake-rattling
Tongues clicking
Fingers snapping
Songs of joy
Of sorrow
Of hope
Sweet balm
Heart-connecting
Swazi Dancing – Photo Credit: opulentroutes.com
Medicine to cure
The colonial-wreaking
Air
Of dinner parties
Lavish meals
Imported wine
Secret affairs
And polo-watching
Economy turning
Churning
Churning
Turning a blind eye
To all things
Hurting
African elephants roaming ESwatini. Photo credit : AJ Robbie
A dark secret
Lies in isolation
Atop a hill
Far from town
A leper colony
Disfiguration
Limbs lost
Pain and suffering
Mixed with
Gratitude and deep
Appreciation for
Grandad's presence
Faces light up
As donated Christmas 
Gifts are opened

And there...
Standing by his side
My five year old heart
Cries a million tears
Not understanding
Why why why
Such a fate has gripped
These beautiful
Souls so tight
And
Deep beneath the surface
Of this endearing land
Lies a disease
Not yet named
A sickness that
Would seep
Through innocent
Veins of many.

HIV and Aids.
Mountains of ESwatini. Photo Credit: www.mountaininn.sz
Remembering this timeless place
And all that my white privilege
Was granted
Has made me yearn
To reconnect
And return 
The love and light

So often I ask
How may I serve this
Beautiful and vibrant Nation
To in some way
Re-pay the debt
That surely
Cannot be now
Forgotten?
--------------------
After we left ESwatini when I was about 5 years old, we returned regularly to visit Granny and Grandad, my paternal grandparents, who remained there for a few more years after our departure.

ESwatini, which is slightly smaller than Wales, is landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique,  and is Africa's last remaining absolute monarch, ruled by King Mswati III. He currently has 15 wives, and was born just two months after me!

Should you ever have the fortune of traveling to ESwatini, here are 10 things you should know before visiting, and the 15 Best Places to Visit.

I thought I didn’t have too many memories of those early years, but apparently, I do have some very vivid images!