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Warning
Warning: When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple | Jenny Joseph
9 posts | 3 read
Voted Britains best-loved poem by viewers of BBC TVs Bookworm, this perennial favorite with its declaration of defiance against convention appeals to all those with a secret desire to throw off the strictures of propriety and set out deliberately to shock and be outrageous. It sums up this wish perfectly with its pronouncement: "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple/With a red hat that doesnt go, and doesnt suit me/I shall sit down on the pavement when Im tired/And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells. Reprinted here as a gift book with line drawings by Pythia Ashton-Jewell, this edition of the classic is ideal both for those who know and love the poem and for those who have yet to relish its gleeful anticipation.
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IndoorDame
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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 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 sambles 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

IndoorDame 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 examble for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
13mo
IndoorDame But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too snocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

#scarathlonphotochallenge #skeletoncrew @Emilymdxn
13mo
Soubhiville I love this poem. 13mo
See All 8 Comments
IndoorDame @Soubhiville same!!!! 13mo
Emilymdxn My mum and grandma both used to read this poem to me!! 13mo
dabbe 🖤🧡🖤 13mo
marleed This makes me want to pop open an uncorked bottle of wine that‘s been rolling around on the bottom shelf of my refrigerator door since last May! 13mo
IndoorDame @marleed love it! Some nights we just need to follow those impulses! 13mo
50 likes8 comments
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Centique
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@Cathythoughts Just talking about ageing and your amazing dad and I thought I‘d share this poem. I‘m sure you‘ve seen it before!

I wanted to say how important our older generation are (although I‘m sure you all know it) and how sad it is that this virus is so dangerous to them - their stories and their lives matter. Here‘s to winning this battle and growing old outrageously! 💕

Freespirit Love it...such a privilege to grow old❤️ 5y
Centique @Freespirit it sure is 💜 5y
Crazeedi Older and wiser! If only I knew then what I know now... 5y
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Cathythoughts Oh how lovely ... I have seen it before , but not for a long time. I love it ! ❤️ 5y
Jeg One of my favourite poems. 5y
58 likes6 comments
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IndoorDame
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Soubhiville Yes! I love this. Are you familiar with Gogol Bordello‘s song Start Wearing Purple? It‘s not for everyone- they are kind of folk/world/punk, but I adore them. https://youtu.be/SkkIwO_X4i4 5y
Redwritinghood This is great! 💕💕 5y
IndoorDame @Soubhiville I'd never heard this before, but it's totally fun, thanks! 5y
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Carolyn11215 @Soubhiville thanks for the recommendation! I‘ve heard of them but don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a video and that was a great introduction! 5y
Carolyn11215 I adore this poem!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
TheSpineView Cute!💜💜💜 5y
42 likes6 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Not that there‘s anything wrong with wearing purple and pair with a red hat, but this fun poem celebrates growing old with freedom - wear what we like, and wallow in our eccentricities.
I hope #WhenIm64 and beyond, I‘ll remember not to take things too seriously and laugh at myself. 🤞

#BeatleMaynia

Eggs Oh great choice! I was a teen when this song debuted and couldn‘t imagine such advanced age. Now I‘m well beyond 64 and it‘s nothing like I thought it would be 💁🏼‍♀️ (edited) 6y
LapReader That is my Nan‘s favourite poem. 6y
37 likes2 comments
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jenniferw88
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One of my favourite poems, read by my favourite actress who is known for a bizarre fashion sense! 💗

https://youtu.be/KvnUTmKRG1I

#old #poetrymatters @LazyDays

TrishB Can‘t wait to be that woman! Nearly there !! 6y
Tanisha_A @TrishB Haha. You are so cute! 6y
jenniferw88 @TrishB 😆 I almost used Sylvia Plath again! 6y
Cathythoughts Love this 👍🏻♥️ 6y
MayJasper Helena is one of my favourite actors 😊 6y
104 likes5 comments
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La_Cori
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this is me, this morning, as I'm trying to finish my last book for 2017 ⚠

(illustration found on Pinterest)

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LitsyHappenings
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Repost from @Clwojick :

IF YOUVE MADE AN ONLINE PURCHASE TODAY WITH #BOOKOUTLET CHECK YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS. I just made a $48 purchase, and my back account got charged $79 instead. My receipt still shows the $48 amount when I look back at previous orders. I have asked them to cancel my whole account and refund me immediately. They have not yet responded, but I wanted to make sure everyone's aware things aren't quite adding up today. PLEASE SHARE!

Peddler410 @TheBookAddict Did you see this? 7y
Jess7 Oh my!! @MinDea - did you see this? 7y
MinDea Oh no! I better look at my credit card! 7y
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TheBookAddict @Peddler410 thanks for tagging me. I shall check. 7y
tomes4gnomes I tried to place an order today but the advertised discount wouldn‘t show up in my cart or at checkout, so I gave up. 🤷‍♀️ 7y
52 likes6 comments
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suvata
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Happy 85th birthday, Jenny Joseph! The British poet's most well known work was embraced by readers of all ages.

PatienceFortitude I wear purple as a young woman 💜 8y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments