families at the aquarium

By Carolyn Cheng ’24

I wonder if their
moms pick out their eyeshadow,
a giggle in gold
 
in this house, mothers
don’t shame daughters for eating
things too sweet, too much.
 
a father looking
for love rests a tired head
on his wife’s shoulder
 
the ocean told her
he’d brush hope behind her ear
gentle and glowing
 
Father cradles his
child under aquarium
light, blue-tinged wonder.