Native English speakers might not realize that our adjectives follow a certain flow chart. This system is called the "royal order of adjectives." Modifiers are sorted in the following way, for the most part: quantity-quality-size/shape-condition-age-color-origin/material-purpose/qualifier [noun]. In essence, this is the syntactical rule that makes the phrase “he’s a smart little kid” sound correct and a “he’s a little smart kid” sound wrong when said aloud. In a few of my favorite poems, the poet takes direct aim at this “royal order” to surprise and delight readers.