too bad he’s so good

the problem with men
when you see how
they are with children
that aren’t their own
is that – if you are a woman
who has ever entertained
the thought of possibly
dating that man – there’s a tiny,
treacherous voice
inside your head
that whispers, “what
if they were ours.”

you don’t want kids
because you assumed
that you’d get stuck with them
because that’s what happened
to your mother, and her mother
and back on down the line.
you always thought
that if you met the right man
who wanted to take care of them
you’d be willing
to pop one out, take one
for the team.

so it’s bittersweet, to
see him being
so good with them. that’s
all.