Let Sleeping Cats Lie

Sometimes it is best to let sleeping cats lie. This week has been fairly busy - both out in the world and in my head - but my brain is relatively quiet at the moment. I've crossed a few things off of my list (thanks for the sanity check, Ommi!) and am feeling reasonably hopeful about the chances of getting through the rest of my weekend tasks. But, other than my to do list, my mind is pretty quiet at the moment. So, I thought I'd let that sleeping cat lie for the moment.

However, I am not thoroughly without a post during this momentary lull. You see, someone has declared April to be National Poetry Month. Hunderds of people are writing poems this month - some of them every day. I am not that dedicated, but I thought that I could at least share a poem that has shown up in my inbox or on my whiteboard more than once. It was written by Jenny Joseph, an English poet, and was first published in 1960. As I am sure that you can see, it was the poem that started an entire movement among women of a certain age (whatever that age may be in your mind). Enjoy!

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 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 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.



...ssshhh. Stop laughing so loudly! You'll wake that cat! Happy Easter everyone!