Concerning Rockstars
1.
It’s the greenhorn years but
every two seconds Dennis Rodman slices air madly as he soars from off-screen;
You’re a night crawler snaking in the camera lens. So young! So sleek! So clean!
You untrained beast, raw with pride, swatting balls of animal skin-
you’re untouchable! Who can understand you? There is no one like you-
God, you can feel the breeze!
Dennis Rodman!
Dennis Rodman!
in bewildered jubilation
Dennis Rodman!
What else is there to say?
Allow me to adjust my cushion
and fast-forward;
what else is there to say?
2.
Dennis Rodman is a Bull now.
For context, I’ll frame it this way:
the Insane Clown Posse and Limp Bizkit are Top 40 bands,
and Dennis Rodman is not a worm. Dennis Rodman is making me sad.
Dennis Rodman almost killed himself.
Who told you that you need to die?
You’re telling me somehow, that night in that burning car, with rifled steel to your ear,
you heard Eddie Vedder say
Dennis Rodman, you’re so clever,
You’re the worm that ate himself!
3.
Dennis Rodman, no one understands you. My dad likes Pearl Jam.
What if, that night in your car, I was with my dad in the yard?
Looking for bait.
Playing bird.
I bet that moon would look the same to us! And the blades of grass!
Each with its dark companion cast by the glowing night!
Dew soaking my shoes—I have goosebumps!
What am doing ripping worms from their homes? I don’t belong here!
Dennis Rodman, I was four years old when I learned night belongs to night crawlers.
4.
Look who stands proud at center-court! Dennis Rodman, you are a bird now!
You black phoenix! You fantastic bird of prey! Your wings outstretched as you scream
your song! You can fly like death! And fight anyone who enters your home!
Skin cloaked in pattern, and face adorned in silver,
your hairs are feathers died in the exact hue of halos—
as you dance your courtship dance on the basketball floor.
Stupid, Rodman! Get him out of there!
No! Stop it. Dennis Rodman is your child! But who can understand him?
Dennis Rodman is not looking for a mate. He needs no one. He’s untouchable
5.
as he exits a black limousine.
Black hat, shirt, gloves, glasses, and skin-
Black smoke eases from his nose and big cigar
You’re home, Dennis Rodman
even with ‘ole Hollywood Hogan, you’re home
and you walk to center ring while Jimi’s guitar
rips the air until confetti, or feathers, or stardust falls at your feet—
‘Cause I’m a voodoo child
Lord knows I’m a voodoo child
6.
Dennis Rodman does not know the difference between basketball and wrestling.
Dennis Rodman cries in public.
Without notice, Dennis Rodman marries Carmen Electra.
Dennis Rodman visits North Korea.
Dennis Rodman will live forever. Dennis Rodman can taste air.
7.
Fine, I don’t know a thing about basketball.
I only care about Dennis Rodman
or any other who lives to understand
the big game is every night.
8.
Did you know I think about you, Dennis Rodman?
When I sit alone and make little birds of clay.
Under the bright lights. I work the earth
to justify our lives.
9.
And when I get um’ hot—
boy, they’ll get hot—
these hot birds,
feathered in the burning light of stars,
will turn to stone.
10.
And when that flame dies
and everything feels cool
I see best we have no choice,
11.
Dennis Rodman, these birds will last forever.
Dennis Rodman, we will never die.