In The Plains Poem by Phillip Nine Mafunga

I grew up in the plains
At the confluence of many rivers
Enhlangano flood plains
Sompisi swamps, a haven of mosquitos
Swimming in Madihwa muddy waters
Eating umpafa by the banks of uNtoli
Running barefoot avoiding ugagu thorns

I was raised on the banks of sandy rivers
That were ferocious in summers
I grew to understand the sounds of birds
When you heard the brown dove then you knew there human habitations close by
The white dove meant water
Yet the grey dove meant you were very far from humans, in the thick jungle

I miss the dry cold winters
Where we would huddle arround fire
As grandmother told us one of her scarry inganekwanes
Of the human like injadukunina and impisi
The smell of dung
The sound of goats and cows
The different sounding bells

I was raised tough
In the boys fights over nothing
Just to toughen and man up
I envy the innocence of youth back then
But yet loathe the naivity and gullibility then
I grew to fight and survive the plains
For there were no mountains in my village
PHILLIP NINE MAFUNGA
15 February 2025