Does anyone know the poem - that mentions something like, when I grow old, I shall wear Purple ????

Question

I read it once a long time ago, and would love to read it again, but not sure how it starts or who it was that wrote it - HELP???

Answer 1

i sent it as a warning to my daughters some time ago and they emailled back.........mother you already do those things.

Answer 2

Jenny Joseph

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 I've no money for butter.


I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarms 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 peoples gardens And learn to spit.



I can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausage at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats And things in boxes.



But now I must have clothes that keep me dry And pay my rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children.


I 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.

Answer 3

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

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 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.

Answer 4

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 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 eat 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 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


Great poem, isn't it? written by Jenny Joseph

Answer 5

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 the flowers in other people's gardens...

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.

Answer 6

Jenny Joseph, 1961, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England

Answer 7

Oh no thats to close to the truth for comfort i always thought i was a bit loopy now i find out im old

Answer 8

Isn't this the poem that started the "Red Hat" movement? Now you have it several times. Lucky you!

Answer 9

Three cheers for endrshadow.