Wine train, wine train, gone so fast;
Laughing Black Women–outcasts;
‘You think this is a bar?
Said the Maitre d’Car…
‘Hmmmm…Let’s see,” said the women of color
Who loved to read.
“There’s a menu of drinks,
Bar food for feed, and drinks
Served at any speed.’
Uppity, educated and loud,
These women didn’t fit the crowd.
So Napa Valley’s
Wine Train tooted to a stop,
Calling everyone of St. Helena’s cops.
Out into the fields, smarty Blacks–
Where the Chinese & Mexicans
Would flop from fatigue, picking grapes
For folks to get gaped
While they sipped their Napa Valley wine,
Wearing white gloves and dour, fat faces
Aboard an 8-car Bar on Wheels,
Gliding past those Vineyard fields
Where the only people of color who laughed,
Were out there pickin’…
Photo by Steve Villano, taken aboard Santa Wine Train, Napa Valley, where Gingerbread People of Color are welcome…
NOTE TO THE ELEVEN (11) BOOK CLUB MEMBERS KICKED OFF THE WINE TRAIN: Come up to my home in St. Helena for another book party, where the wine will flow, along with laughter!