Storm Residue

I don’t know why the dog’s paw
stuck out of the sand that day
after that terrible storm faded
leaving the sky dark purple and threatening
I remember it was so windy
the sand sharp against our faces
the beach littered thick with shells

Simultaneously our eyes
discovered the large paw
that bulged from the sand
dirty white and wet
bent at its flex point
we both immediately reached to grab it
as if we could pull this helpless creature
out of its submerged wreckage

I wish I could remember
if it was a cold paw
its pads were pink
if the animal attached to this one visible paw
died in the storm
or some other strange and menacing measure … no idea
only remember its lifeless form
cupped in my warm hand