By J.J. Tindall
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ROLLING STONES
OK: it was 1978
And I was 17.
The Stones
Were coming
To Soldier Field,
Named in honor
Of Army veterans
Of World War
One.
No possessive.
The Stones
Were touring
On “Some Girls”
And I
Was gonna
Be there.
Fellas:
I was gonna
BE there.
I didn’t
Sleep out
For tickets
Because
It was such
A big venue.
We got
Tickets
Anyway.
Our group slept
In Speedy’s basement
The night before,
Because
We had his dad’s
Car,
A lime green
Chrysler Cordoba.
Amazing
What you can get
When your bud’s dad
Is cheating
On his mom.
We arrive
At “Soldier’s Field”
In the dark,
And get in place
Near
Some doors.
Then:
Zeus the motherfuckin’
Almighty
Decides
The doors
We camp out by
Open FIRST.
MAIN FLOOR
OPEN SEATING!!!
We get
Thirty yard line,
Fuck you
Very much.
Long day…
Fucking JOURNEY
Is the
Opener,
And they do
OK…BUT
Steve Perry comes out
For the encore
And goes
“YOU KEEP THIS UP
AND WE’LL NEVER LEAVE!”
Silence ensued.
Again: we’re at about
The thirty yard line.
Acrobats come out
After Journey
(“FUCK! Where
Are the STONES?”).
We’re main floor
Within thirty yards
But as time
For the Stones
Approaches,
Things tighten up.
People are ticked
By folks trying to
Move further forward.
Here’s the poem:
Suddenly,
Right in front of me
Two slammin’ chicks
Appear
In black lace
Body stockings
(Ask your wife
Or long suffering
Girlfriend).
One of them
Gets down on her knees
RIGHT
In front of ME
–I’m in hip-hugger
Bells without shirt–
And the standing one
Whips out
Her compact
And blows powder
Onto
Her kneeling
Friend.
I’m sorry?!
Perhaps
Needless to say,
Without protest,
They continued on
Closer
To the stage.
It was
A Helluva
Show.
“Beast of Burden”
Went on
For ten minutes.
Fellas: I continue
To cope
With the meaning
Of the
Power
Of that
Image,
Those two
Chicks,
Making their way
Forward.
–
J.J. Tindall is the Beachwood’s poet-in-residence. He welcomes your comments. Chicagoetry is an exclusive Beachwood collection-in-progress.
–
More Tindall:
* Chicagoetry: The Book
* Ready To Rock: The Music
* Kindled Tindall: The Novel
* The Viral Video: The Match Game Dance
Posted on June 11, 2013