Hello there 🙂

Welcome back to this newsletter — my weekly(ish) attempt to share some hope during our current climate crisis.

Last week I had the joy of seeing Salena Godden perform. Salena is a bit of a legend in the poetry world (you’ll see why), and seems to be part of a whole movement of writers, artists and activists who are taking hope seriously. Since that performance I’ve been reading and re-reading two of her poems in particular, keeping them close. I thought other people might like to do the same.

One of these poems — ‘pessimism is for lightweights’ — has really taken on a life of its own, almost becoming an activist in itself. I love it when art does this. On days when I do nothing for the climate, I remember how our ideas and acts are always rippling, echoing, moving through the world, touching hearts and changing minds.

I hope you’re having a wonderful week.

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Pessimism is for Lightweights

Think of those that marched this road before
And those that will march here in years to come
The road in shadow and the road in the sun
The road before us and the road all done
History is watching us and what will we become

There is power and strength in optimism
To have faith and to stay true to you
Because if you can look in the mirror
And have belief and promise you
Will share wonder in living things
Beauty, dreams, books and art
Love your neighbour and be kind
And have an open heart

Then you're already winning at living
You speak up, you show up and stand tall
It's silence that is complicit
It's apathy that hurts us all
Pessimism is for lightweights

There is no straight white line
It's the bumps and curves and obstacles
That make this time yours and mine
Pessimism is for lightweights
Pessimism is for lightweights
This road is never easy and straight
And living is all about living alive and lively
And love will conquer hate



Welcome to Hope

Here's your map, she says
This is where you always are
See here, the mountains of vivid life
Make a boat of books, read all
Sail down this mighty dream river
Through forests of wonder
See how the trees grow ever good
How the sky holds its own
Nature is so loud in her gardening
Follow your own path
Your soul is your compass
Kindness isn't a border
Caring is not a city
But change is in the wind
And wild is the weather
Home is a feeling not a place
And now is where we are
She nudges me awake
Welcome to Hope
She sings to me
Welcome to Hope
Get up! Get up! Get up!
Hope is here and love knows
We have so much to do.

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This is a semi-regular newsletter by Matt Sowerby, a storyteller and poet. Subscribe to start receiving little parcels of hope (in the form of stories, thoughts, tools and tips) delivered to your inbox, drawing on history, literature, art, and politics. 🙂