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[Limehouse]

Here is a poem for the older ladies among us!





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.

Jenny Joseph

[Ally]

Did you know that there is an entire society in the States that has built up around that poem? Older ladies get together wear red hats and purple and hang out. It's called the Red Hat Society. I've always thought that was amusing. Younger members are allowed to join but they can' t wear red hats, they have to wear pink.

[Limehouse]

Thanks Ally - that's lovely. All power to the older ladies!

Perhaps someone could invite Jackie Stallone along and encourage her to adopt the attire of real older ladies!

[Natalie Severn]

Absolutely! Thanks Ally, what a treat of a poem too!
xx

[lynn cates]

Tennyson anyone?

Hello All. What's all this then? A Victorian site and no Tennyson?

Here follows the poem that Tennyson demanded be included in all anthologies of his work.

CROSSING THE BAR

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Cheers.
LC

[Natalie Severn]

Oh Yes Lynn! and then there is "The Lotus Eaters" which is so full of languid atmosphere it almost lulls you to sleep!

[Celesta]

[QUOTE=Limehouse;94860]Preludes

I

The winter evening settles down
With smell of steaks in passageways.
Six o'clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
Of withered leaves about your feet
And newspapers from vacant lots;
The showers beat
On broken blinds and chimneypots,
And at the corner of the street
A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.
And then the lighting of the lamps.
T.S. Elliot


It really takes you there, doesn't it? I like it alot.

[Celesta]

Thanks Celesta.I loved both .The Shrewsbury Jail one is very moving.
Yes,wasn"t Julie"s poem brilliant?

Absolutely!

[Limehouse]

Celesta - that is one of my very favourite pieces from Preludes too!

I came to Eliot late (about 16 years ago) but I think that some of his work you really appreciate more if you have a few miles on the clock!

[Celesta]

Julie, I know what you mean about having miles on the clock.

I've been thinking about your poem. I thought it was very good. Do you have others? And have you thought about a website for your poetry? After it's copyrighted, of course.

The poem for older women you posted is a favorite of an elderly aunt. She would testify that getting older can be very liberating.

[Limehouse]

Julie, I know what you mean about having miles on the clock.

I've been thinking about your poem. I thought it was very good. Do you have others? And have you thought about a website for your poetry? After it's copyrighted, of course.

The poem for older women you posted is a favorite of an elderly aunt. She would testify that getting older can be very liberating.

Hi Celesta

Yes - I do have other poems and could PM you a few examples if you like them. I started writing when I was very young - fiction and non-fiction - and always wanted to be a writer but never had the time to spend on it properly. I do write some satire - mostly for friends at work for our end-of-year Christmas dinners or for retirements. The serious stuff like the example above only seems to flow when I am very stressed so I suppose it is a good thing I only write a few each year!


Thanks for your kind comments.

Julie

[Natalie Severn]

with thanks to Tom Waits

Well all you old ladies I am still very young thankyou -in my dreams!

Seriously Julie, Celesta is right.You should set up a website.I am about to do just that with my paintings.

[Limehouse]

Well all you old ladies I am still very young thankyou -in my dreams!

Seriously Julie, Celesta is right.You should set up a website.I am about to do just that with my paintings.

Do you like Tom Waits Norma? We have several of his albims and CDs. He is certainly an acquired taste but he has a huge talent and when i am in the mood he hits the spot just right!

I shall certainly think very seriously about the website idea. Thanks.

[Natalie Severn]

Hi Julie,
Yes,I particularly like ,"You are innocent when you dream".You get started on that website Julie,its a great idea of Celesta"s.

[Celesta]

Well all you old ladies I am still very young thankyou -in my dreams!

Seriously Julie, Celesta is right.You should set up a website.I am about to do just that with my paintings.

I was just wondering, yesterday, why you hadn't posted those, Nats! I meant to ask you!

Love,

The Old Lady