Las Uvas

They say Cesar Chavez heard it through the grapevine,
sharp vines passed through his heart.

Round pellets of grape
made his lips speak with the pain.

Pain of thousands,
and wind naked underneath its clothes.

The sun’s belly on the ground,
burning even the dark-skinned Luis Valdez to a crisp.

The great weight of the grapes
trapped in campesino arms.

Cesar powerless to forbid,
Cesar too shaky to tremble.

Yet his cheekbones strong,
and his heart straight.