Harlem Wine

This is not water running here,

These thick rebellious streams

That hurtle flesh and bone past fear

Down alleyways of dreams.

This is a wine that must flow on
Not caring how nor where,
So it has ways to flow upon
Where song is in the air.

So it can woo an artful flute
With loose, elastic lips,
Its measurement of joy compute
With blithe, ecstatic hips.