Jessica Woodford was inspired by Rob Hopkins, The Time Traveller’s Tale, which is featured in the our Autumn 2023 issue – PM117
Rob Hopkins says “It is my strong sense that it is not enough to just talk about extinction and collapse, we also have to express something beautiful for people to run towards.”
I’ve been to the future – 2030
Where London streets are lined with fruit trees
Community gardens, bees and birdsong
The roads are clear, clean and safe
Children outside playing
The fresh and earthy scent
Of London’s food forest fills the air
The government lost their power
And was replaced by an assembly
Of people who care
About the Earth and humanity
Young and old
A diverse body of colourful people
Inspiring, honest, uplifting
Young people’s learning hubs
Alive with plants and trees
Are a hive of creativity
Interests and fascinations are supported
Young people flourish being seen and heard
Children’s rights
Are no longer a radical concept
Oceans crystal clear
The rainforest of the sea
Is thriving and providing
Food and habitats
For the vivid array of marine life
Commercial fishing is banned
Now the bird population is soaring
Only renewable, sustainable materials
Are produced now
Trash skimmers and robotic fish
Have freed the ocean of plastics
There’s an abundance of oxygen
And since we stopped offshore drilling
There have been no spills
Barbie changed the world
Once again
And this time for the better
Patriarchy is a thing of the past
People live in equality
And respect each other as they are
In 2024, a 15 year old girl
Converted the first slaughter house
Into a sanctuary
For the remaining farm animals
And opened The Rainforest (plant-based) Café
To financially support the project
Changemakers all over the country
Have followed in her footsteps
As the poet Rilke said,
“The future must enter into you
A long time before it happens”
I’m now back in 2023
Feeling optimistic and inspired
For this paradigm shift
A promising future awaits
This poem, by Jessica Woodford, originally appeared on her blog: https://jessicas-voice.com/ive-been-to-the-future