A Great Poem 3

Hi and hello again! I found today's poem when scrolling through Pinterest. This poem is so very soothing to me! I think it's just like a hug on a rainy day.

Let's get to the poem!

This is

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 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.

This poem is super sweet. 

To me at least, ageing has always been super scary. This poem is, and I’m sorry I have to repeat myself, like a hug. I love that this entire poem screams defiance. There are no regular stanzas. There is no rhyme scheme and no mystifying language. I'm assuming there is no meter either; I'm too lazy to check. There even is a pov switch in the middle (from 1st person to 2nd). From the first line to the last, this poem defines poetic norms. It's a great example of how the poem is written further contributes to the theme or bigger ideas. This poem is straight to the point, and I love it.

I think this is just a beautiful example of free-verse modern poetry. It's proof that poetry like all other writing is art by and for the people! It doesn't have to be intimidating to start interacting with poetry, whether that means reading, writing, or commenting on it.