— For my grandsons

to someday stumble on the circumstance
of love, lie back, and in the quiet, try
to give shy thanks for all its providence.
I pray they’ll need not know such things as, by
its sound, the caliber of ordnance.

Elicia Edijanto, In the Wind , graphite on paper, 2022. Used by permission.

This poem was shortlisted for the Rhina Espaillat Poetry Award in 2023. Find out how to enter your poems here .