Wagging His Tongue

Just when I think I've seen and heard everything, there's a poem about an underwear salesman that just takes me aback. Wait, this guy used to play what?

Forty-one Seconds on a Sunday in June, in Salt Lake City, Utah

Quincy Troupe

for Michael Jordan

rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in space,
cocks his right arm, fires a jump shot for two, the title game on the line,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face


bore in on the basket, gaze focused, a thing of beauty, no shadow, or trace,
no hint of fear, in this, his showplace, his ultimate place to shine,
rising up in time michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in space,


after he has moved from baseline to baseline, sideline to sideline, his coal-face
shining, wagging his tongue, he dribbles through chaos, snaking serpentine,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face,


he bolts a flash up the court, takes off, floats in for two more in this race
for glory, it is his time, what he was put on earth for, he can see the headline,
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in space,


inside his imagination, he feels the moment he will embrace, knows his place
is written here, inside this quickening pace of nerves, he will define,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face,


inside this moment he will rule on his own terms, quick as a cat he interfaces
time, victory and glory, as he crosses over his dribble he is king of this shrine,
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in space,

his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face

First, it's in a fixed form so points from me already. But then the lines he chooses are so resonant right from the start and pick up speed from there. I love the juxtaposition of "wagging his tongue" and"snaking serpentine." And there are great internal rhymes in unexpected places: it's all pretty virtuosic but still restrained. 

These aren't qualities I'd expect from a poet featured on "Def Poetry Jam." Man, I need to see that episode now... I think basketball has its "Casey at the Bat."