The Verse - Volume 26
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Purple Particulars – The Purple Poem

Have you ever seen a group of women out to lunch wearing purple clothes and red hats? Now, thanks to this month's Purple Particulars, you'll know why! Read about "The Purple Poem" that inspired these ladies who lunch.

"Warning, When I Am An Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple" has become a global phenomenon! Elizabeth Lucas has published her calligraphic version of the poem nationally since 1984. This delightful poem that speaks of growing old in a wonderfully outrageous style was written in 1961 by Jenny Joseph who lives in Minchinhampton, England. The poem is popularly known by many titles including, of course, the actual title "Warning", as well as by "When I Am An Old Woman", "The Purple Poem", "Old Woman", "I Shall Wear Purple", simply "Purple" and by other affectionate names. It is cherished by thousands of women throughout the world and practically everyone who enjoys its light humor wants to know more about its meaning and to learn about the author, Jenny Joseph.

Warning

by 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 sandles, 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 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 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.