Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Better Life: a reflection on old age

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation curate an online exhibition of older people's experiences and reflections on what it means to grow old.

Better Life includes one of Andrew Motion's finest poems 'Better Life' inspired by those who took part in the project:

"...I am living here among you
and you pay no attention or decide what I am thinking
which is not worth your attention. I am every single colour
in the rainbow but you see no colour. You see the colour grey."

Extract from 'Better Life' by Andrew Motion

Tags for Forum Posts: growing older

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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on February 14, 2012 at 18:15

Hi Liz. Damn nice of Motion to mention you in his found poem. Is that the might-have-been Steve Jobs on the right on their Home Page?

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 14, 2012 at 18:19

When I get to 82, you'll be strumming a harp...that's if they let you in.

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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on February 14, 2012 at 20:21

Didn't I tell you? I've booked my place in a warmer clime. No damned jangling harps for me.

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Permalink Reply by John D on February 14, 2012 at 19:32

Thanks Liz. But a pity you headlined perhaps the most downbeat passage. I hope people take the trouble to read the whole thing.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 14, 2012 at 19:54

Isn't the point of that part to be provocative? Isn't Motion using those words to challenge the reader?

That's how I read it, not as downbeat but rather as a gauntlet thrown down. The whole poem is peppered with these challenges to the reader: "If you were looking...", "Can you hear what I am saying? Are you paying attention?", "Is it only when you become like me that you will hear what I have to tell you?". As a 'found poem' presumably these provocative statements are based on what people said.

I would hope that if people have taken the time to click through to this page, they'll go to the link. I'm sure they will. I'm not a big fan of Motion's work but I do think this is one of his best pieces.