You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son

by Wolf Parade

This Is My Father

This athlete, this sack of water
and muscle, and bone rests
between two trunks tied
with white string and more colorful
fabric, on a hammock.
This is my father reflecting light
from his glasses back to me,
he's smiling bashfully because
we only have seconds
to take this picture he's posing for
before we leave to see a film
at the movie theater here
in Kentucky. My sister-in-law Samantha
and my brother, her husband Jon
are waiting for us in a silver
Mazda, engine running in place.
This is my dad, my "pops"
caught here on holiday
from work to compete
and he's wondering,
"What is this for?"
I don't tell him because there is
simply not the time.
We're already leaving
the hammock and farm,
the relaxing breeze and barks
of the four or so dogs assembled
by various families presently visiting.
We're already leaving and passing
around a blue and silver can, an energy
drink called "Howling Monkey" which
is supposedly a health tonic. It has
a ton of B vitamins and the bold flavors
don't scare this man. He hands
the drink up to me, without saying
anything about how it tastes.