My muck magnet
mud splattered
puddle stomping
jam smeared
crumb dropping
sticky fingered
paint splashing
pen scrawling
finger printing
juice spilling
boy
became
smart shirted
svelte suited
shiny shoed
smooth socked
slick haired
sparkly smiling
sweet scented
freshly shampooed
softly spoken
smooth talking
man
A quadrille is a 44 word poem. We write them at dVerse. De is hosting tonight, and our magic word is “magnet”.
Sarah writes poems 
Ohhhhhhh! I simply adore this. Such a wonderful take on the prompt. “muck magnet” is perfection, and the spill of this is divine. My son is nearly 19, so we’re in the middle of this journey, too. ❤
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Mine is nearly 17, so I’ve pushed him on a bit – but I do wonder where my grubby chubby cherub went…
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I really love this… it’s amazing that those boys can grow into soft-spoken men… (and there are few who get stuck in the mud-magnet stage)
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It seems to happen more suddenly with boys. Maybe that’s just mine.
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Metamorphosis of the best parent-relieved kind. I like how you split the poem in two like two wings of a butterfly.
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Aw that’s nice. I hadn’t thought 9f it like that.
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Ha! What a fun study of development and such effective use of alliteration.
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I threw as much alliteration in as I could!
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Oh this is so beautiful! 💝 The quadrille melts my heart as I seek to experience through your eyes the gradual transformation of boy to man. I especially love; “finger printing juice spilling
boy became smart shirted svelte suited.”💝
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Thank you, Sanaa.
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each image can hold such memories, can’t it? My son is just about to turn 15 and I would like him a bit more sweet scented at this point. He is getting more smooth talking though, haha!
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You wait!
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I smiled at this very adept description of the metamorphosing of little boys into men! Well penned.
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my daugther was the muck magnet a great poem for any parent
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I love this, Sarah. I don’t have sons, but I can imagine the change. My younger daughter was always sweet, but she was definitely a muck magnet as a toddler and preschooler. 😀
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I like this Sarah. I have a daughter and had two sons, one still remains. So I understand the essence and appreciate this poem.
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It all happens so quickly, doesn’t it?
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I love the transformation from boy to man. This is so sweet told from a mom’s loving heart. There will come a time you will miss that boy, smiles.
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Very cool read, Sarah. Your ordering of adjectives and your fine alliteration add to the outstanding rhythm of this piece, not to mention the fine development of character. Salute.
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It is amazing how two-word lines can flesh out the limits and say so very much; that’s a great way to approach the quadrille.
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Ooh I like this poem as well. The two word lines really brought it out. Nicely done.
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This is wonderfully like time-lapse photography in words! I love it 🙂
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Wow, I enjoyed this evolution of boy to man in 44 words! The terseness of lines and active adjectives was perfect for the journey. As a mom to two sons, I can relate.
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The acceleration from boy to man in this poem is breathtaking: especially as I still have my youngest at the muck-magnet stage, and my oldest is somewhere in between. Blink and you miss it!
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It seemed to happen so quickly. He got a girlfriend, moved into 6th form, suddenly he’s leaping into the shower every night and worrying about his hair. How did that happen?
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Haha I can imagine that happening to my eldest actually, but not the mud magnet: just yet!
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Oh, this sounds so familiar. It’s beautiful.
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I love the progression in this wonderful quadrille, Sarah, which reminds me of that old Pepsi advert – a Kenning ode (with tons of alliteration and rhyme in only 44 words) to your best boy! I also love that the word ‘boy’ is the fulcrum and man is the full stop at the end of the poem.
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Thanks, Kim. I love kennings. The fulcrum and full stop were a happy accident. 😊
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Terrific and so different.
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome
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I smiled at this one…hopefully he still sneaks in some mud stomping. (K)
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He was up an apple tree last night, helping us pick, seeing how high he could go. He’s still my boy.
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That’s good to know.
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Absolutely charming.
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It is AMAZING how that happens, isnt it? This made me smile. I can SEE him!
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Well . . . having raised a boy (and a girl) who is now 44, I LOVE this! You’ve nailed it 🙂 You made me see it in your words all over again 🙂
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So sweet Sarah. They grow up so quickly.
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You’re lucky 🙂
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He’s a good boy.
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I wish mine was gooder.
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This is delightful and calls to me as one with two amazing adult sons. I love the paired wordings. So fun.
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Beautiful beautiful mom 🙂
Loved your lyrical poem
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Delightful, Sarah! Such a fun poem that so accurately describes the transformation from boy to man! ❤ Take care, Cheryl
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so charming…. pliz visit my website too
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