but also amusing
to a lifelong language lover
because “littorally” means having to do with the shore–
the listener is at least ninety-nine percent sure.

A confirmatory Google search leads to a blog,
from Brooks Brothers; an entry, entitled “Littorally literary”;
and a list of suggested beach reading, including
Payback at Morning Peak, by Gene Hackman.

Wait–Gene Hackman, the actor, writes?
The oracle at Google reveals that indeed
Hackman co-authored three novels with a friend
who, it turns out, was an underwater

archaeologist, who worked for
the National Park Service, which, of course,
oversees the Cape Cod National Seashore,
which is littorally washing away.