When I am Old

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 the flowers in other people's gardens . . .

The ending of the poem pleases its readers when the woman says . . .

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.

Author: unknown

I shall not mind
the whiteness of my hair,
or that slow steps
falter on the stair,
or what strange image
greets me in the glass...
if I can feel,
as roots feel in the sod,
that I am growing old to bloom
before the face of God.

I'm not afraid of growing old. I actually look forward to being a Grandmother. I hope I can be just as great as my Mother was as a Grandmother and as my Grandmothers and Great Grandmothers. I look forward to being retired and having the house to ourselves. With age comes wisdom and the older ladies can certainly teach the younger ladies a thing or two!

"Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."
Psalms 71:18

Proverbs 23:22 "Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old."

Job 12:12 "With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding."

Job 32:7 "I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom."

1 Kings 12:6 "And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men... and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?"

Ruth 4:13-16 "...And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman ... And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age ..."

Psalms 71:17 "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works."

Psalms 71:18 "Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."

Psalms 71:9 "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."

Author: Maya Angelou

Phenomenal Woman"
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.