Freedom Seen Thro’ the Fractured Glass

Where ere befell a guiding light
Shining eyes beheld a glory
Holp toward a muted purpose—
A distant feigning glimmer,
Beyond the pale of words.

An aching need to be remade,
A sculptor's hand; a brutal vision
A child; a blank canvas,
A naivety, a submissive nature,
An eagerness to please.

Lead them to a dimming light,
There amidst our dying shadows;
There betwixt the Sun and Night,
Where line the winding gallows.

Where shame forsakes the birth-right
That a darker voice be heard.
And offer up their souls of light
Like the flourishing of birds.

The blinding faith sees not the wraith
Whose night has coiled a cold embrace.
The sun shall nevermore break
Where the twilight, some sayeth,
Precedes its visage upon the lake.

Darkness shall have usurp'd the day
And those who needed believe
Shall have naught to say,
Atop the boroughs as they grieve,
Bearing the known regrets
And we—
The freedom used to deceive,
To let embolden depravity,
To watch the flames spread despair and misery.
The freedom to preach hate and heresy,
To wrongfully endure—
For which we all shall sorely pay.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

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

Diderot Avatar
June 18, 2026 at 12:01 PM
All of this one...beyond perfect. The ending, profound. "And we— The freedom used to deceive, To let embolden depravity, To watch the flames spread despair and misery. The freedom to preach hate and heresy, To wrongfully endure— For which we all shall sorely pay."
Dragons Avatar
June 21, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Thank you very much. I'm quite weary of how the idyll of freedom is being hacked whilst some quietly defend such loathsome voices bent on tearing down the very medium that carries it forth. The paradox of freedom is to allow only so much and never till a tipping point is reached. Empty the glass of poison and right it so true freedoms fills to the brim. Freedom does not equal wanton abandon, or the right to preach hate by technicality. Such has lead us here, not by avenue of freedom of speech, but by the abuse of it's earnest to be selfless and of use to all and even be subverted by a sly few. Who put this soapbox here?! -anyway thank you.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace