On this celebration of word in verse I thought I would share one of my favourite poems with you:
Jenny Joseph - 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 have 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 beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes to 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.
And seeing as it is a special occasion an' all maybe I will be a little brave and share one of my own....
Soul Mate
The feelings I have are crushing my chest
It takes all my effort just to take a breath
Crank up the music with a pumping bass
And wipe the tears streaming down my face.
The magnet of history pulls us together
It hurts to resist our corner of forever
You bring the best of me out to play
I wonder if you feel the same way.
Standing here I'm mesmerised
By the shining light within your eyes
A part of me in time torn
In your arms I am home
I guess I will just have to be satisfied
To stand aside and just watch your eyes
Our soul unable to reconnect
Just friends! It's for the best.
I feel strange that I haven't commented on this yet. I swear I did? Maybe I just did in my head. But 1) I love your poetry. You always hit my soul-strings, and that is a gift, my friend. 2) I love your autumn background. Makes me less sad to lose the warmer months of the year and settle softly into the cooler months. 3) You help me be happy. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being my angel, you keep my heart high enough for the words to speak to it.
DeleteJust friends? That's a bit heart wrenching. But, beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteThe first one reminded me of my grandmother. In her 'old age' she wore leather pants and would always tell my sister, before her ball games, to 'Give 'em hell!"
Thank you Jewels, that means a lot.
DeleteJust friends.....not sure that ever really works whilst keeping your heart in tact!
I love Joseph's poem, it reminds me to live my life instead of being what others want me to be, not that it always works! Your grandmother sounds ace, she could be friends with my gran; she has held the nick name hot rod granny fo most of my life!
I've always loved the Joseph poem--I first saw it while working at a book store in the '90s. It just has such a great spirit to it.
ReplyDeleteI love your poem as well--a completely difficult emotion beautifully expressed. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you MM.
DeleteAnd you worked in a bookstore, jealous much!!