Fifteen years ago, we went on an excursion throughout New England. We walked into a feminist bookstore in New Hope Pennsylvania; a quaint little town, where there were almost as many horse and buggies driven by Amish as there were automobiles driven by the English. This is where I initially discovered this poem by Jenny Joseph. We bought the scroll and had it beautifully framed and it has been hanging on our wall every since. We are a society that is obsessed with youth, but this work intentionally embraces and CELEBRATES the wisdom, the freedom and the dignity of the crone; lightheartedly. Perhaps youve heard it or read it before. Warning When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesnt go, and doesnt suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say weve no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when Im 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 peoples 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
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 03:24:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015