by Julia Griffin

“Technically, Thompson’s right hallux [big toe] was the first body part to complete this Olympic final.
But finish lines only recognise the chest. Lyles won gold by five thousandths of a second,
quicker than the time it takes to blink.”
—The Independent

The finish lines just recognize the chest.
They cavalierly disregard the rest,
Like Mr. Thompson’s charging dextral hallux
(It seems this word does not require italux).
It does make sense. However much diminished,
Until your chest goes still, you are not finished;
For Mr. Thompson, though, his brief elation
Must now appear a sad halluxination.