Warning
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 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.
Jenny Joseph
Poem from the following site: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/
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 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.
Jenny Joseph
Poem from the following site: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/
I was about 11 - years old when I first heard this poem. A person come to our school who called herself Miss Purple. She read to us, talked about the importance of reading and doing well in school...very motivational...but, the coolest thing about her was that she wore purple, had purple hair, and drove a purple car. All of us kids thought she was just about the coolest adult we ever met. She did make an impression on me as I sit before my computer every day writing...sometimes a short story, most likely a poem, or like today comments on a poem that had meaning to me long ago and now as I am of an age that I can relate to the lady in the poem. I have often wondered if this was the inspiration of the Red Hat Club!
Sit back with your favorite beverage, read Warning and think of someone in your life that will be just like the lady in the poem. She will be the most interesting person you will ever know!
I have threatened to add purple to my life...and that will happen on Thursday...but, that is another story all together.
Always…I wish you peace, joy and happiness, but most of all I wish you Love.
As Ever, Annie
Sit back with your favorite beverage, read Warning and think of someone in your life that will be just like the lady in the poem. She will be the most interesting person you will ever know!
I have threatened to add purple to my life...and that will happen on Thursday...but, that is another story all together.
Always…I wish you peace, joy and happiness, but most of all I wish you Love.
As Ever, Annie
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