Aggregation

[dukealien]

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.

[Achebe]

But really, mud (clay) is just finer sand.

[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.

[dukealien]

But really, mud (clay) is just finer sand.

So what you're saying is, size matters?  

(Seriously, I picture clay/mud as being laminar a bit like graphite, and sand as having almost visible, irregular grains.  But it's been a very long time since I looked through a microscope!)