- damariszehner
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
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
Now they're just mountains and rivers
Now we've got something for dinner
There was a shopping mall
Now it's all covered with flowers
You've got it, you've got it
You've got it, you've got it
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
This used to be real estate, now it's only fields and trees
Where? Where is the town?
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
Now it's all covered with daises
You've got it, you've got it
You've got it, you've got it
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
You've got it, you've got it
Now it's turned into a cornfield
You've got it, you've got it
I can't get used to this lifestyle