My piece for @solarpunkstoryexchange , a poem for the prompt “The feeling of cautious hope.“ I was also inspired by Greta Thunberg and the way she has spoken about something I call “apathetic hope vs active hope”. The first one leads to a false sense of security, while the latter inspires to act. The latter is what we need to find more of, and what I think solarpunk is about.
”Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.”
In the clack of metal and the crash of glass when they fall to the recycling
in the chants of the young in the streets and at the steps of the parliament
in the reflection of light from windmills standing in the fields
in the native herbs under solar panels and the sheep grazing it low
in the lines being drawn to give ships power from the harbor grid
in the trains that go farther than planes and faster than cars
in the flowering trees in the parks around the city
in the lush urban garden boxes at the side of the road
in the snowy winter nights with geothermal heating instead of oil
in the summer days when the water is warm from the sun
in the new plant based foods popping up in the stores
in the vegetarian school lunches tasty and well made
in the seams of a dress mended to last and last
in the first leaves of potential food from rescued seeds
in the trees that get turned into houses and packages and more
in the trees that are let grow and get old
in the trees that are let die and rot
to house a fungus and a critter or ten.
”Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.”
