I liked basketball for reasons I’d rather not explain,  
Not the best at it, but I play just the same.  
Dribbling, passing, missing the net—  
Yet it’s your presence is what I can’t  forget.  

Your cute face lights up the court so bright,  
The way you move fills me with delight.  
Even when cheering your goals from afar,  
My blushes betray how smitten I am.  

I sub out quickly, five minutes in,  
But against you, I fight to stay and win.  
Man-to-man, I’d play till the end,  
For moments with you, I’d gladly expend.  

Stealing the ball, sharing a laugh,  
Your voice, your smile—it’s more than enough.  
And oh, how silly I feel inside,  
That you know my name fills me with pride.  

When you said, “Man-to-man, let’s play,”  
You made my day in the simplest way.  
I love basketball, it’s always been true,  
But I love it much more because of you.