A Poem

The following is a poem by Jenny Joseph called, "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 pickles for a week,

And hoard pens and pencils and beer-mats

      And things in boxes.

Yes, but now we must have clothes to keep us dry,

And pay the rent

And not swear in the street,

And set a good example for the children,

And 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.