I expect most people are familiar with Jenny Joseph's poem in which she details what she will do when she is an 'old woman'
Reading the newspaper at the weekend, Ray told me that the Japanese now call their 65 - 75 year olds the 'semi-elderly'. What would be your preferred name for this age group?!
Jenny Joseph wrote the poem when she was 29 and apparently hates purple herself.
WARNING
by Jenny Joseph
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 sandals,
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 pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
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 will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!
A small and belated September update for 2024, where I am still, after many years' membership, on 365 Project, also now posting elsewhere but wanting...
Haha! Have always loved this poem.....I think the age group is the new middle age :-) I read something about the cold weather advising the elderly (over 65s) not to go out! Excuse me?? Don't start me Hazel!! Great photo to represent you narrative!
Lovely colours composition and close up detail Hazel, thanks for the interesting poem, don't have anything purple myself may have to get something new, "semi-elderly" in years we may be but still a thirty year old inside:)
Beautiful shot and a brilliant poem. I think it was the inspiration for the Red Hat Society. Maybe you should join it Hazel, Just get a red hat to go with your purple clothes and you will be all set.
I love this poem Hazel and a great image to go with it!!
I hate the way you reach 65 and are now elderly and seem to be the cause of every problem we have in this country particularly the problems in the NHS. My sister keeps suggesting they give us all an injection and solve the problem that way!! Yes a bit extreme I know!! LOL!!
I love to see the ladies in purple with red hats on a day out en masse it always makes me smile. Beautiful tulip capture and of course great colours together.
This is a great poem, such a gutsy attitude which we should all embrace with open arms! A nice big of info re the poet too. I've heard of the red hat company, I would buy a red hat specially if there were any red hatters near me! I am a grown up well rounded person I think & I only feel about forty inside. I must say though I am rather enjoying life at the moment but as long as the health is there!
Great shot. Very colourful! I like how as I've got older I'm not so conscious about everyone looking at what I am doing or what I am wearing. When I retire I intend to wear jeans all the time!
What a very beautiful composition. Instant FAV.
P.S. I hadn't heard that poem before. I wonder if was what influenced the Red Hat Society. I know they all wear red and purple when they get together to go out to lunch.
Such an interesting poem and I can envision myself doing some of the things the old lady does. ( except spitting in public. Yuck!)
Lovely capture of the tulips.
I thought 'the mature' would be good but then the youngsters probably wouldn't like their corresponding title?!
No? (I'll lay claim to that adjective - compared to when I was im-mature!!!)
I have always worn things that don't go together...my eldest daughter has made many a comment hahahaha
Your flowers are lovely.
Looks like Babs and I are on the same wave length. @onewing
I hate the way you reach 65 and are now elderly and seem to be the cause of every problem we have in this country particularly the problems in the NHS. My sister keeps suggesting they give us all an injection and solve the problem that way!! Yes a bit extreme I know!! LOL!!
Well I'm wondering if I am elegant enough - I have a wolly red hat!! I do believe I looked into this once and decided it wasn't 'me'!
P.S. I hadn't heard that poem before. I wonder if was what influenced the Red Hat Society. I know they all wear red and purple when they get together to go out to lunch.
Thank you for comment and fav and I guess it was that poem which influenced the Red Hat Society - will try to find out online!
Christine, I'm pretty much doing that (retired!) Occasionally I struggle to decide to wear a dress.
Lovely capture of the tulips.
I understand but for me 'eating three pounds of sausages in one go' is even more yuck!
We've had one or two splashes of sun this week but they were all shorttlived.