Thursday 10 March 2011

A warning to my children... :)




Warning

by Jenny Joseph



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 candles, 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 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 pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts 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 for 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.


17 comments:

Vicki Smith said...

Great interpretation of the prompt!

Jess said...

Hi Kathy, I took of glimpse of this illustration and thought immediately of this poem! Maybe I'm almost there already, except the spitting which I'll NEVER do! A really lovely picture. I love the way you've drawn the rain.xx

Susan said...

Great illo! and I love the quote on the right side from Edgar Tolson.

Redeker said...

wow...great warning! Please do so, those things you have written here!!

Art by Andy Bauer said...

Your work is so detailed yet delicate. I love it. Great job!

Julia Kelly said...

wonderful illustration!

Laura G. Young said...

What a great illo! I've always loved this poem....

Julia Christie said...

Lovely magical poem!
Love the illustration to go with it too!!! I want to be this zany now!

Smiles

lil kim said...

Really lovely - great illustration and poem.

Giselle Vidal McMenamin said...

This is wonderful! Love the way you render in colored pencil too.

Sarah Melling said...

Love the soft quality to your work. Beautiful!

Sab said...

very very nice ! ^_^

Tammie Lee said...

oh yes, practice a little now!!
I love this, the poem, the thoughts, your charming art that makes me smile.
Happy day and beyond to you~

theartofpuro said...

Wonderful illustration and poem!

Jon Davis said...

Great illustration, lovely characterisation, and marvellous colours :)

Emily said...

What a great idea!... we all get a bit kooky with time and practice makes perfect! ;)
Super sweet illo!

Vita said...

I LOVE the poem and the illustration!!! This is just great!!!!