On the Commuter Train

Early sunlight washes the landscape.

And ladies on their way wear headscarves

To hide their pride.

Their palms hard to wash and scrub

And refine the dish to curry the palate.

On the train they talked stories from TV

And Down South Blues country,

Bedrooms, men they loved and men

They married, children and tomorrow

With its iridescent sun, relentless

To do daywork on the world.