Freedom

Are we, who live in the land of the free, free? What does freedom even mean?

Freedom

What is freedom
If our water
Is undrinkable?

What is freedom
If our air
Is unbreathable?

What is freedom
If our food
Makes us sick?

What is freedom
If there is no peace
In the places
We call home?

What is freedom
If our land
Has lost
It’s life?

What is freedom
If our community
Has lost
It’s center?

What is freedom
If we cannot live
As we are designed
In love and truth
With creature and creation?

What is freedom
If the only choice we have
Is to consume
And participate in a system
That destroys life at every level
In the name of progress and convenience?

What is freedom
If truth is ours
To mold and shape
And we empty it
Of life and death?

What is freedom
If we are scared
Of our neighbors
And they are scared
Of us?

What is freedom
If we live in fear
And we refuse
To trust?

What is freedom
If we do not risk
And we do not
Reach out to want more
Than what the formula guarantees?

What is freedom
If our hands are clenched
Around comfort and security?

What is freedom
If life is nothing more
Than a lifestyle?

What is freedom
If our bodies betray us
Because we have betrayed
Our bodies?

What is freedom
If we are slaves
To money and power?

What is freedom
If we have no hope
For the future?

What is freedom
If we cannot work
To make things new?

What is freedom
If we are not
Healthy and whole?

What is freedom
If we are blind
To our reasons and ways
That destroy and kill?

What is freedom
If we have no desire
To cross the road
And help?

What is freedom
If we have no faith
In the way, truth and life
Of Love?

What is freedom
If our eyes are cast down
Or turned inward
And we cannot see
Beyond this world?

What is freedom
If we cannot
Live in Vulnerability
Fragility
Weakness
Transparency
Desperation
And dependency?

What is freedom
If we can not imitate
Goodness?

What is freedom
If we are divided
In ourselves
And our words
Are divisive?

What is freedom
If we have lost
Our conviviality?

What is freedom
If not everyone
Is Free?

What is freedom
If it is not
A free gift?

What is freedom
If we cannot
And do not
Use our freedom
To set others
Free?