Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Eccentric me

To a certain extent, I identify with this poem. Sometimes, I think, this is what I'll end up like; eccentric.

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red
hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am 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 pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts 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.

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple
By Jenny Joseph

7 comments:

Sarah said...

I love the color purple, and InshAllah I'll wear lots of it when I'm older *blush* :P

widad said...

:)

I love red. Perhaps I'll wear red with a purple hat! :P

I think I'll end up being one of those cat ladies, 99 cats and counting... ;)

Itsfarsh said...

This is soooo not going to be you :)

It will be a regular Family Circus at your place..Kids,pets,chores.. the whole deal :)

Did I hear someone say "Eccentric".. i think the word to use here is "conventional" :)

widad said...

I am so not "conventional"
:rolleyes:

Sarah said...

Widad,
Have you heard of the Red Hat Society? The poem reminds me of women in that society lol... They wear red hats and purple dresses.

Check it out: http://www.redhatsociety.com/

I saw them having a meeting at the mall oneday. I couldn't help but snicker to myself *hijabi* I find it to be a bit funny lol

widad said...

Sara, you and I should start a club, like the red and purple cat society. Or something similar.

Itsfarsh said...

^ And what would be the entry criteria to such a club? Probably, members would be required to bring along cats painted in obnoxious colors :)