The speaker describes their son, nicknamed "Slow Reader", who is capable of making sculptures and machines but struggles with reading. The speaker feels pride in their son's abilities but his slowness at reading spoils this. The son gazes into the air and shakes his head like an old man who knows obstacles cannot be overcome. The speaker eventually relents and allows their son to avoid reading, likening him to a fish returning to water or a colt shying away from being bridled, as forcing reading would prevent him from being truly free.