Joanne Bailey Baxter "When I'm An Old Lady"
When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.
Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...)
I'll write on the walls with reds, whites, and blues,
And bounce on the furniture.....wearing my shoes.
I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...)
When they're on the phone and just out of reach,
I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
And when that is done, I'll hide under the bed.
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...)
When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat.
I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry...I'll run....if I'm able!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...)
I'll sit close to the TV., through the channels I'll click
I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
I'll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud 'til the end of the day!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids...)
And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,
I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!"
This poem explains that when the woman grows old she will be living with her children. She brings a humorous take on how older people will need help when they are older, and sometimes they do things as if they were reverting back to when they were a child. The speaker states that when she moves in with her children they will be so happy. The children will then have to watch over her as if she were the child, and will yell at her when she is doing the things that her children did when they were younger. Ending the poem she explains that, just as a child, the children will come to her room stating, “’She’s so sweet when she’s sleeping!’” This poem gives me a great deal of happiness. It makes me think about my father, and how he would say something random like this. Even though it would not be true, he has the sarcasm that is portrayed within this poem.