This Poem Can Be Read Backwards & Gives Exactly Opposite Meaning

Pessimistic Approach at first and Optimistic when Reversed

The poem is titled as The Lost Generation written by Jonathan Reed as an entry for the AARP’s video content that launched on YouTube in 2007. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a non profit organization that helps people above 50 years of age to live affordable and beneficial, independent lives. 

The contest aimed for the age group of 18-30. It was about creating a two minute video that described the vision of their life at 50 years of age. The motive behind this was to encourage intergenerational dialogue to enable young people create visions for their future. 

Jonathan Reed from Atlanta, Georgia won second place in the contest. What’s stands unique for this poem is that it turns the pessimistic view of the world to optimistic if we read the poem in another way.

Here is the first view of the poem

Now read backwards

When read backwards, the poem has an optimistic view

There is hope.

It is foolish to presume that

my generation is apathetic and lethargic.

It will be evident that 

my peers and I care about this Earth.

No longer can it be said that 

environmental destruction will be the norm.

In the future,

I will live in a country of my own making.

I do not concede that

30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce.

Experts tell me

This is a quick fix society

but this will not be true in my era. 

Families stayed together

Once upon a time

I’ll tell you this:

Family

is more important than

Work

I have my priorities straight because

my employer will know that

they are not the most important thing in my life.

So in 30 years, I will tell my children

“Money will make me happy”

is a lie, and

“True happiness comes from within”

I realize this may be a shock, but

I can change the world.

And I refuse to believe that

I am part of a lost generation.