Father and son working with a trainer
but the father does all the talking,
the kid sitting on the next machine
twisting his hands into strange gyrations,
a generalhy ignored gnat on the edge of a bowl.

Father and trainer move across the gym,
kid follows, hands behind his back,
like a prisoner in tow.  You may remember
a time you felt this way, lagging four steps
behind, wanting to be part of things.