hallux: big toe. Plural: Halluces

 

You stopped.

Pausing in our conversation,

your hallux drew a line in the sand

and urged me on ahead:

“It’s not the end of the world,” you said.

Our short walk together was over,

I was to carry on as before.

And when I looked back,

the line had been washed away.

So why do I know I know you stand

halluces dug in the sand

on the other side of the breaker

when the ocean takes my hand

and throws me down to shore?