bad poem; my humble poem
Polite (humble) term for one's own poor poem, or a self-deprecating reference to a poem that is not well-composed. The literal image is of a poem with a 'broken waist' (腰が折れる), suggesting a weak or awkward structure.
stooped over; bowed
Describes a person, especially an elderly person, whose back is bent forward. The word literally means 'broken waist'.
A stooped old woman is walking slowly.
stalling; relapse
Rare usage referring to a setback or interruption in progress, such as a project stalling or a person having a relapse. The metaphor is of something 'breaking' in the middle.
The plan came to a standstill.
This is my humble poem; please have a look and laugh at it.
Standard spelling for all senses.
Variant spelling without okurigana; less common but acceptable.
Compound of 腰 (こし, 'waist, lower back') and 折れ (おれ, the continuative form of 折れる, 'to break, snap'). Literally 'broken waist', used metaphorically for a weak poem, a stooped posture, or a setback.