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orange crumble

Member since 2003 · Posted 25 Aug 2005 · Edited 26 Aug 2005 · 7 comments

rough surfaces brick meets mortar brushed with moss bricks spall and crumble mortar falls away black gaps mark the separation grey orange green and black the colours of a wall

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mean 5.50 weighted 5.06 rank 6762 views 235 View voting details →

4 votes so far. Yours would make 5.4 votes so far

A favorite of ay deee.

7 comments

[n/a] impert&ent 25-Aug-05/11:59 PM Reply

after tanks(4) http://www.poemranker.com/poem-details.jsp?id=129826

[4] LilMsLadyPoet 26-Aug-05/4:21 PM Reply

spall? typo? (spill, fall?) made up word? new word I have somehow managed to miss? gap in my vocabulary? What of this wall?...you described it, now I wonder about it...perhaps you could add to this, make it more than just a description. Does this wall match how you feel? How the area feels? Dark and crumbling? Is it decaying while everything else around it is newly built and valued? Is there a contrast you can include, to make this wall interesting? Does is separate you from something, does it line something, does it hold up something of worth, or left to decay as if it is nothing, when it is in fact something? As it stands, it just stands and does not garner much if any attention. I need more than this if I am to take notice of this wall of yours.

[n/a] ALChemy › LilMsLadyPoet 27-Aug-05/7:26 AM Reply

I looked up spall. Means chip away or crumble.

[4] LilMsLadyPoet › ALChemy 27-Aug-05/6:47 PM Reply

Ah...a new word! Alas, I was feeling lazy and did not look it up! Thank you. Spall, then means crumble....so is it corrct to say, as the poem does> "bricks spall and crumble"? Would seem one and the same word. Like: bricks 'crumble' and crumble? I would think spall>chip away, is more of an action taking place, so that would not work in that context...? "Bricks 'chip away' and crumble" Would it be correct usage to say?: "Bricks spall, becoming rubble beneath the feet of passers-bye." Thanks for the info!

[n/a] impert&ent › LilMsLadyPoet 28-Aug-05/3:40 AM Reply

1. Gap in your vocabulary.
2. It's just a way of looking at a wall.

[n/a] impert&ent › LilMsLadyPoet 28-Aug-05/3:52 AM Reply

The word is typically used with reference to concrete that endures sub-zero tempratures. It can also refer to concrete floors that are disintegrating through the accumulation of lime or due to the movement of heavy loads across them. In the case of freezing, water near the surface of the concrete freezes, expands, and shatters bits of the surface.

Spalling also occurs with brick, but regardless of temperature. Bits of brick flake off, and sometimes rework an entire face. On older walls the entire surface develops a rough but pleasing character.

If you live in a freezing climate, take a close look at the surface of a concrete steps or retaining walls, particularly those with smooth-formed surfaces. Bits of edges that look like they've been knocked off are likely spalls.

[8] ay deee 3-Sep-05/10:03 PM Reply

i can imagine this wall, i think i pass it often