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.

When I search for a poem to write a blog about, I like to read the first line and if it sounds interesting, I read on. "Warning" written by Jenny Joseph caught my eye with its first line. I couldn't help but smile as I read the poem, and when I started imagining my own grand mother wearing purple and learning to spit, a little chuckle escaped out of me. The obvious meaning of the poem can be that people are so entrapped and bound by the ways of society and  restrict their thoughts and behaviors to society's ideologies; therefore, losing the ability to express themselves. By using the words "purple" and "red", Joseph is able to allow the speaker to create a bit obscene picture of an elderly grandmother doing things that are viewed as unacceptable in society. The light tone of the speaker keeps the humor going through the first few stanzas. However, the poem starts to become gloomier and more dense towards the last stanza. The humor disappears and becomes bogged down by the responsibilities of the present. The speaker has to set an example for the children and be an informed citizen who is socially accepted. 

A question that can be asked is, 'why wait until we are old, and when do we become old?' The second question just sparked some interesting thoughts within me. If the speaker decides to do all those eccentric things when she becomes older, when exactly will that be? Does it mean that old age is when no body cares for you because they themselves are so invested in whatever society imposes upon them? When you have no one to be with, it liberates you to become free from people's judgments, ideas, and expectations. However, isn't during the time of youth when you can find your identity and live as you wish? Isn't that what other writers are writing or have written about? For example, Winesburg, Ohio implies that youth is what everyone craves for because hope is associated with it. I guess the speaker of "Warning" has the opposite view of youth, which is that youth is a hindrance to freewill. 

Actually, I really agree with the author's view because as a teenager, I am so engrossed in what other people have to say about me. Basically, I don't have my OWN view or stance, not really. I mean I like to think that I do but in actuality, I don't because the ideas are of others, and I am just adapting it to my way. The clothes I wear, how girls have to act in front of others are things I never even questioned because it seemed so natural. However, when you actually think about it, aren't I being conformed? therefore, losing my identity? Perhaps I will be like the speaker of the poem and start wearing purple and eat whatever I want when I grow really old. Until then, I don't think I will have the courage to go against the society's ways. I mean who can really say that they aren't conformed? Can you?