Russell Dodson Poet Free verse

Freedom!

FREEDOM!      (c) 1969, 2005, 2025 by Russ Dodson

  Loving country, not the system,
    can I be for a thing
      that is not for me?
    I can't.  That is not for me.
  And you?

Freedom!
  Where have 'we the people' gone?
    I seem to remember somewhere,
      some not-so-long-ago:
        the right to life, liberty,
          pursuit of happiness?
        Going, going, gone!
      Who has stolen this birthright?
    Held it for ransom -
  Sold it for profit!

Freedom.
  Where lie the greatest profits?
    In contraband.
      The more illegal the thing,
        the greater the demand.
          The more illicit things,
            the greater the profits.
          Who reaps these profits?
        What law governs those who reap?
      Which laws do they govern?

Freedom?
  Where have
    'We the People' gone?
       Politics - campaigns
         shadow plays
           performed by strutting puppets 
             upon the stage of democracy
               before fleeced-eyed patrons of the arts
                 of delusion - deceit.
               Who pulls the strings
             also pulls the wool.
           Who pulls the strings?
         Where have 'We the People'
       left to go?

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Russell Dodson August 25, 2025 at 8:51 AM This is a poem about politics, which I usually avoid like I do hard labor. It is even more relevant today than it was when written in 1968, '69. And I believe it is going to get much, much worse. If the volcanoes and earthquakes don't get us first.