Boat Envy

I envy my neighbor’s boat
Flat bottom, chipped paint

He takes it out on weekends
Sometimes on Wednesday 

His son beside him in the truck
Fishing poles dangle and clatter

I watch from my office window 
While he drives past, late afternoon 

My sons are upstairs, wife waits
I’m working, strapped to my desk

Hours later when he drives back
A full cooler ready for dinner

The sun sets. My boss calls again
Sorry to bother you, but he isn’t

I chose this, wages for time
My children’s childhood, for what

Photo by Pedro Kümmel on Unsplash

Featured image Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash