He’s gone back to school

pursuing welding

and he’s still making his art

as unhinged as ever

when his son asks to talk to the mother

he doesn’t fight it

even though she traded him for substances

and she makes no attempts

he wants him to make whatever decision he will

to form his own opinions about his family

his kid, to him, isn’t a weapon

or a bargaining chip

but a fully formed being needing a little guidance

there are those who say I’m not ready to be a dad

because mine left before I was born

to them I point out men like this

who are better fathers

than he could have hoped to be.