The Weekend Dad

He’s clearly a weekend dad
one who has brought his boys to the pool
mostly to kill time

which he checks often
hunched over his smart watch
like he doesn’t know about watched pots…

He’s an average joe with an
average body, a middle aged
office body, pasty and slightly drooping

He gets in the pool and plays
a few rounds of football at the
youngest’s request, expending minimal effort

and reminding the two boys
after every throw that they only have
one more play, one more round, they have to go

On their way out, the youngest, about 9,
still in the pool, throws his small arms sweetly
around him and I wonder about the day that this dad

will wake up and wish he had been more
than a weekend dad, that he hadn’t wasted
precious minutes checking his devices

when there were two beautiful boys in front of him
waiting
to be seen and heard and loved just by him

and I hope that day comes
before
he’s out of time.