"When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple."
These are the words that a poet once said.
But I'm only eighty and that is the reason
that I am still wearing bright red.

"When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple."
I'll probably be at least eighty five
but here in the sunshine, I think I'll wear yellow
while I'm waiting for spring to arrive.

"When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple."
I know that I'll be a hundred or so.
But now I want rich green and sky blue and coral - -
I have many bright colors to go.

"When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple."
But somehow I just can't see that far ahead 
It must be beyond a score and more Aprils - -
in the meantime I think I'll wear red

Nell S. Jenkins
Copyright 1998