i should be banned from female sports social media

barefoot players,
shorts riding high—
uniforms with cheeks
dripping out the bottom
and a jersey.

arms cinched around teammates,
hands grazing low on stomachs,
touches held
a beat too long—
posed,
curated,
for the feed.

their toes flex,
soles grip the glossed blue court,
arches rising—
a choreography
made for scrolling.

i don’t want,
but i want,
this heat climbing my chest.

what’s it like
in the locker room—
wet hair dripping down jerseys,
towels snapping?
on the bus, campus to campus,
knees pressed together,
music loud, dancing
in their seats?

after a win,
Gatorade splashed down bare backs,
sugar running sticky along spines,
the air sharp with citrus,
their laughter cracking wide.

ladies, ladies, ladies,
i’m rooting for you—
are you rooting for me?