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​Thickly muscled thighs relax while
dense pectorals ripple under coffee skin, all
gleam below a smooth layer of oily perspiration

On the state of the world
on the truly colossal divide
little girls will still dress as princesses 
green tulle and glittering wands
fairy wings hang askew, how cute.
Boys will still don black polyester masks 
and play ninja, jumping from street to sidewalk
with a daring karate chop
Big girls – but not too big - will still wear a naughty little number 
while Captain Fantastic dances, fully covered, in a disco cage
under pulsing lights and throbbing music
 
Today’s dumpster fire news strips her name 
she is the female Michael Phelps
today’s Disney princess news
teaches that she is wife of linebacker
camera focuses on how very short the shorts 
on how much we see of her thighs
Today’s America great again news anchor
zooms to the hijab
prefers these legs covered
that head bared
seems puzzled when
she swims like a girl

may we all soak tank tops in mighty splotches of stinking sweat
may we hit hard enough to bruise forearms and tear elbow flesh
may we grunt when the weight is heavy
may that weight rise 
like a triumphantly pumping fist
may we stomp around the ring, with mouths open impolitely wide
may we all 
Swim
Throw
Hit
Run
          like a girl