Freedom

‘Freedom is never voluntarily given by the
oppressor; it must be demanded
by the oppressed.’
Martin Luther King. Jr


One sunny afternoon
Freedom motored into town.

A raggedy crowd gathered
and they called out Freedom’s name.

But the Oppressor’s men came
with truncheons and shields
with water cannons and guns.

The Oppressor stood on a podium
and ordered Freedom
to leave.

Freedom shrugged,
revved up,
skedaddled.

But the crowd would not be silenced.

They chanted
waved banners
sang songs of hope and joy

and demanded that Freedom return.

The Oppressor looked on;
implacable,
stern

so sure of himself

until Freedom
hit the brakes
and did a three-point turn.