Warning

On page 375 of Sound and Sense, you will find an amusing poem titled "Warning." The speaker of this poem is an adult woman, and she is speaking about her plans for when she is old. The poem begins:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

The poem continues in a similar way, as she expresses the silly things she plans on doing as an old lady. While none of her ambitions are particularly wild, they express a sense of freedom that she later states she lacks. I enjoyed the fact that this poem was in favor of "letting your hair down" a bit. I like the idea that there is a time in life when you no longer have to be so concerned with "important" things. The speaker expresses joy in the idea of eating what she likes, or going out in the rain (which I guess is a bad thing). These are things that one is less inclined to do when they are raising children, or are trying to maintain a certain weight. The poem is concluded with the lines

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.

I love that this woman is trying to fill a void in her life, and I applaud her old lady ambitions.