How Do You Imagine the Coming Collapse?

Here are the words of two different artists, Alexander Pope and David Byrne. They portray mixed feelings about the potential for a more natural future after the collapse of the fossil fuel industry. Where along the spectrum do you fall?

Ode on Solitude

by Alexander Pope

Happy the man, whose wish and care    A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air,                             In his own ground. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,    Whose flocks supply him with attire, Whose trees in summer yield him shade,                             In winter fire. Blest, who can unconcernedly find    Hours, days, and years slide soft away, In health of body, peace of mind,                             Quiet by day, Sound sleep by night; study and ease,    Together mixed; sweet recreation; And innocence, which most does please,                             With meditation. Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;    Thus unlamented let me die; Steal from the world, and not a stone                             Tell where I lie.

Nothing but Flowers

by David Byrne of Talking Heads

Here we stand

Like an Adam and Eve

Waterfalls

Garden of Eden

Two fools in love

So beautiful and strong

Birds in the trees

Are smiling upon them

From the age of the dinosaurs, cars have run on gasoline

Where? Where have they gone?

Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory

Now they're just mountains and rivers

You've got it, you've got it

We caught a rattlesnake

Now we've got something for dinner

You've got it, you've got it

There was a shopping mall

Now it's all covered with flowers

You've got it, you've got it

If this is paradise

I wish I had a lawn mower

You've got it, you've got it

Years ago

I was an angry young man

I'd pretend

That I was a billboard

Standing tall

By the side of the road

I fell in love

With the beautiful highway

This used to be real estate, now it's only fields and trees

Where? Where is the town?

Now, it's nothing but flowers

The highways and cars

Were sacrificed for agriculture

I wish that we'd start over

But, I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lots

Now it's a peaceful oasis

You've got it, you've got it

This was a Pizza Hut

Now it's all covered with daises

You've got it, you've got it

I miss the honky tonks

Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens

You've got it, you've got it

And as things fell apart

Nobody paid much attention

You've got it, you've got it

I dream of cherry pies

Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies

You've got it, you've got it

We used to microwave

Now we just eat nuts and berries

You've got it, you've got it

This was a discount store

Now it's turned into a cornfield

You've got it, you've got it

Don't leave me stranded here

I can't get used to this lifestyle