I picked the colour purple for the dots on my world map in reference to one of my favourite poems…When I grow old I shall wear purple by Jenny Joseph. The poem suggests picking flowers from other peoples gardens and making loud noises, eating all the wrong things and at last, in old age, allowing oneself to feel alive.
It was once suggested to me that I try doing some of these things before I am old. To do things which inspire me and to be a little bit outrageous now! So this is why I picked the colour purple for my “Map Dots”, to remind myself to follow my Seele (German: soul, inner self), to let my hair down, maybe forget the spitting, but go for the satin sandals and the summer gloves.
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 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 my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers from other peoples gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow fat
And eat threes pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week.
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats 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.
Jenny Joseph
It was once suggested to me that I try doing some of these things before I am old. To do things which inspire me and to be a little bit outrageous now! So this is why I picked the colour purple for my “Map Dots”, to remind myself to follow my Seele (German: soul, inner self), to let my hair down, maybe forget the spitting, but go for the satin sandals and the summer gloves.
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 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 my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers from other peoples gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow fat
And eat threes pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week.
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats 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.
Jenny Joseph
Notes
1 comment:
To wear purple before you get old is not a bad idea. I believe that purple is suited for all ages, and it is one of the good colors.
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