Aggregation

[Brownlie]

Aggregation



Having fallen once or twice with
cuts and bruises, riding over
mud of slick consistency

one approaches yet another
patch of brownish, humid matter
after floods and pounding rain.

Then, surprise!  As foot or tire
toes with fear, expected mire
proves to be damp, solid sand

molding underneath the treads of
shoes or wheels, it firms and lets us
step off, balanced, on our way.

Mud is slimy, oily, sticky,
treacherous where sand is gritty
stuff of beaches, castles, roads.

Sand’s abrasive, rough, its grains fit
tight, obstreperously grinding,
binding as they aggregate.

This is a good experiment in describing stuff. 

I wouldn't want to step in either but would prefer mud to poop. Nothing worse than a big wet flop.