When I an old....

Years ao I read a wonderful poem that beins:

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple...." The full poem is in the extended post. Now, let us assume that you were asked to make it yours, how would you finish this line:

When I am an old woman (or man) I shall.....

Warning by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Comments

[Eilean Rawson]

Have been looking for this poem for a while now to give to a friend who has just turned 60. Have also found her a bracelet of purple beads and red enamel hats, each different. Am writing this from NZ where we're all a bit like this anyway!!

[sheila gow]

Oh dear, I have a purple coat and a red hat, so do my Grand daughters,I have just taught them how to rattle sticks in park railings and we three can eat sausages and pickle for England.We take off our shoes and walk bearfoot in shopping malls and sit on the ground when we are tired. Does this mean I am training them to be old ladies at 3 and 5years old?

[Barb Gillespie - Canada]

Now that I'm old and wear a purple dress, red hat and all the tacky accessories that go with them maybe I'll have so much fun with my friends I'll forget to be a crusty old granny and teach my grandchildren (the older ones) to enjoy a martini with me and enjoy life one day at a time.

[Diane Sheard]

I love this poem, and am having it read at my wedding in 2 weeks, and yes, I am wearing purple (well at least a delicate lilac!) My friend, who is reading it, thinks it is the most appropriate poem for me, as I had a very quiet youth (And make up for the sobriety of my youth) and am now beginning to live, finally at 50. I dont feel old, but am happy to be practicing!

[Barrie Singleton]

TATTOO TA-TA

When I am an old man I shall wear thin;
Patience and limbs worn equally.
Do-gooders will stalk me – hungry.
They will label me demented
But I will know it is exasperation
That a life sees nothing achieved
Nothing, that is, of real worth.
Regression has no appeal for me
My wearing will be honing
Through such word play as that
A delight to the intellect
While it remains.

I give one nod to Jenny Joseph:
To shock people who don’t know me
When, I too, take up purple
I shall have a torso tattoo.
It will say:
“If I pass no telling remark – kill me.”

[Hazel]

Yes the author is Jenny Joseph. I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer aged 52, but hope to wear purple one day (it was always my favourite colour in my youth anyway).

[pat finch]

well i am an old lady now, and what have I done-- learned to play the drums and joined a rock band, these guys are in their 20's and dont mind a wrinkly on the drums. I dont wear purple though its not my color

[Margi Walker]

It's happened!! I'm old and wearing purple but no red hat just red hair and I can spit and I gobble the samples in the shops and I talk to myself in the street and I don't care what anybody thinks - Freedom!!!

Margi - Liverpool

[Steve]

When I am an old man I will...

Listen to the same music as my grandchildren and still wear my favourite Iron Maiden tee shirt. Ask for Jack Daniels for my birthday. Tell all the kids they don't know they're born. Try something for the first time every couple of months. Thank the Lord my wife made a last minute decision to go to a New Years party in 1979 and wasn't scared off by the drunk guy telling her she was gorgeous.

[not quiet an old lady yet]

I shall pinch the bottoms of hansom young men in the streeet and wink at them when they look back i9n shock.

[TnRUBY]

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