Ten-Year Old Boys…

Inspired my own 10-year old boy!

I think there's something to Ford Prefect's observation: “If they don't keep on exercising their lips, he thought, their brains start working.” (From Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, chapter 5, by Douglas Adams.”

Oi! Ten-year old boys… 

Oh! But they’re smelly…

And they’re - Oh! - so suddenly loud… 

They emanate such mephitic vapors…

Can they never stop moving and jolting and jostling? 

Why, oh, why are they ever so stinky… 

And, Lord above! They never stop talking!

And, withal, ever and ever more noisome!

Too clever by half, they know too much! 

Really! What a malodorous olfactory assault! 

They don't know enough to know they don't know enough!

And - oh, by the way - did I mention? 

They’re really quite odiferous.

But…Ahhh! Ten-year old boys…

He’ll hug you still, heedlessly…

And gaze adoringly up at you from that still cherubic face.

He squeezes you, so tight, so joyfully…

Always running headlong for joy, ever so endlessly bold…

His embraces remain spontaneous…

He’s in all things still filled with the glorious wonder of the new…

And, still, he wants to snuggle his mama…

What I have to say still matters to him…

He cleaves to me still, aggressively…

He cherishes and admires me and thinks I’m cool…

And still can’t go to bed without his hug and kiss goodnight.

He steals my heart every moment all over again

Each time he folds himself into my embrace.

“Pride is one of the seven deadly sins but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues -- faith and hope.” by Charles Dickens

by D. Denise Dianaty

Author's Note

How many ways can you say "stinky?"

Reviews

[therisa]

Have to laugh, at your author's note, Momzilla. Can remember my mom telling me, to get out of the tub, else I look like a raisin, on two legs. I loved taking long hot baths, while playing with my toys, in the bubbles. Kissing and hugging my parents, "good night", was the one ritual that I have kept, until I broke off my relationship, with mom.

I hope, your son never grows tired of his bedtime ritual, Momzilla. And yeah, boys tend to smell, but those memories are, the ones, which you treasure forever.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. He's still very affectionate, thankfully.

[therisa]

Your welcome, Momzilla. May your son stay that way.

[AprilRN1210]

you sure did find more than a few ways to say "stinky" didn't you... it was funny, amusing, and touching... If I could make a suggestion, (and I know why you did it, I think--but) the quote in the middle would flow better at the beginning instead of in between the stanzas.. just leaving the "But…Ahhh! Ten-year old boys…" is sufficient.. it sort of breaks up the flow a little bit... (just my opinion, for what it is worth)...
otherwise lovely, moving, and entertaining....

[MomzillaNC]

You know, I was just thinking that just kind of broke the flow of the poem, as I looked at it in the book form. Thanks!

[AprilRN1210]

yes, the line and the italics signify for those that don't "pay attention" as a signal.. flows so much better this way.. glad I could help :)
great minds...... think similar... lol

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks so much. I was looking at it and thinking it didn't work, stewing over what to do when you dropped the answer, so blindingly simple, on me! :D

[AprilRN1210]

as you stated in a review I saw earlier, that is why we all need editors :D
love it when others give me pointers or catch silly mistakes... lets me know 1. they were paying attention and 2. that they care :)

[AprilRN1210]

and you are more than welcome...

[PloughBoy]

This was unique, fresh, and oh, so very true, MomzillaNC. I remember when my own son was ten. That was ten years ago, yet he still exhibits that same, carefree boyish nature at times.

A wonderful poem, told from two very different perspectives.

I truly enjoyed it!

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I didn't really see it as two perspectives, but rather, the second stanza is the perspective that gives us reason to put up with all the stinky and the ego! :D

[PloughBoy]

ha-ha, you are very welcome, my friend.:)

[Pushkar Prabhat]

amazing! i was waiting for this one.
thank you.
beautiful and smart poem!
i loved it!
:)

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you very much. :D

[Matching Socks]

:) I love this!! Awesome. I know that's not constructive but I'm giving you the emotional review. :)

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

[Matching Socks]

This one I remember!

[MomzillaNC]

It kinda lingers in the memory, doesn't it? :D

[Matching Socks]

Lol! Yeah. :)