Showering in Public

It's early morning,
I'm packing my backpack:
Computer and headphones and swimwear, but no towel

I don't like showering at gyms.
Never thought of why
Maybe it's 'cause I'm semi known?
I don't want anyone listening to my albums
while telling their mums what my ass looks like
showering in public, showering in public

This is me recapping my life when it comes to showering in public:

First grade, some guy at the pool kept his office
next to the girls locker room, drinking his coffee
while watching us shower. I don't know his story
Someone said he was a pervert,
I'm like, "Well, maybe he just liked coffee"

but the rumour alone gave us a sense that you
have to watch yourself while showering in public, showering in public
You have to use a towel strategically,
shower one body part at a time

Two times a week, we had gym class in grades four to nine
So that was two times a week that the
boys could sneak into our locker rooms
to try to catch us naked.
It became a tradition!
I still remember their bored faces,
like they thought we would get upset if they didn't show up
to watch us shower in public, shower in public

You couldn't shower, and then you
would get accused of being sweaty in public

At seventeen, in the locker room
one of the bathrooms was broken,
it had a sign that said 'BROKEN'
but some of the girls from the arts programme opened the door anyway,
found a guy who drilled a hole through the wall
to watch us all come in after gym and then, magically
shower in public, shower in public
They chased him down the hall.
The paper published the news with a fun caricature!

It's fun, come to think of it,
I know no less erotic places than locker rooms.
Sweaty women drinking protein drinks with sweaters but no pants on,
talking about kids and work and training,
blowing noses and laughing and complaining.

Jens, I must go now
I'm heading home
On the yard, a small amount of snow has laid to rest.
I hope you bought yourself a quilted jacket down in Göteborg.
Jens, I wish you all the best