Page 18 - YSCC poetry booklet 2021

The Streets Beneath

Do you see what I mean - that more technology, harder science and another shelf burdened by pol-
icy cannot be the only keys to a better world? Yes, these technocratic solutions are, ultimately, highly
necessary. But if you ask me, they are only truly worthy if they are positioned as complementary to
the culturing of intrinsic values that are more visionary.

…And wouldn’t that coalescence of science and society be, ironically, transformative change at its
finest?

Me: I seek now to tread more lightly and give more freely; to love more wholly and live more
peacefully; to engage more respectfully (but also to sit less silently and raise my voice when neces-
sary!) And, in so doing, to embrace flexibility such that I learn continuously rather than (try to) do
it all perfectly.

So, will you walk with me, along these subjective streets beneath the science?

What message would you like to share through your poem?

Transformative change is needed if a better world is to be achieved
for all. The poem calls on the reader to recognise the importance of
moving away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to sustainable
development and to integrate more subjective, nuanced aspects into
their work by collaborating more meaningfully with stakeholders. In
doing so, it encourages the reader to look inward at his/her own
values, limitations and prejudices, which is an early but essential
stepping stone toward transformation.

poetry booklet V5 25 02 2020.indd 18 2021/03/09 09:33:17