Heel to Toe
by Pat Seman
Give me a pair of shoes, laced,
firm round the ankle.
Give me grace
and a strong walking stick,
so I can put one foot down
after the other,
heel to toe, heel to toe
without faltering.
Give me a stone,
red as the earth it came from,
veined with fire, jagged, rough,
small enough to clasp
in my hand.
And a shell,
light in my pocket,
its perfect symmetry
spiralling,
twisting down
to the hidden chamber
to the sounds
and silence
of the sea.