Of course I want 
all the big things: 
equality and parity, 
and a decline in celebrity
particularly those ones
who are famous
for being famous
aye those ones,
you know the ones I mean.

World peace 
and kids who have enough to eat
without having to shame
those supposed to lead
with social media feeds.

Free speech 
and the right to a roof
over your head and your own bed
in a place you can feel safe in.

Forget flying cars 
and trips to Mars, extendable arms
or robots to clean your cars
I would take holding you
in my arms. Never having to look
at you through a screen again.

I’d take dinner parties; 
pubs; film nights;
Christmas; dates;
crap dates; ceilidhs;
even funerals.

My wish? My wish is for 
a future filled
with all the past I didn’t touch
or feel, or breathe in
in a way I would’ve done
or should’ve done
if I could’ve seen /the future.

Julie McNeill is poet-in-residence for St Mirren FC Charitable Trust and Makar for the Hampden Collection.