The alluring idea of pure transparent freedom is often just that – an idea, a whim. Even for those who are by law ostensibly free, there are ties that bind, whether physical, spiritual, or even mental.

The construct of freedom has driven many a poet to the paper, to scribe his or her idea of what it means to be free, of the desire for freedom, or of the dangers of freedom.

In a country built on the foundations of liberty, many began their lives in America enslaved. The African-American quest for freedom inspired not only those who lived through slavery, but those who came afterward. Langston Hughes’ “Freedom’s Plow” describes the emboldening idea of freedom for both those who were slaves and their children, in this excerpt from the poem:

For those Hughes describes, freedom is more than being released from the bonds of slavery. It’s an obligation, a responsibility to cherish.

Those who have lived ostensibly in freedom also find the idea of freedom fascinating, although they also sometimes see it’s darker aspects. Ambrose Bierce’s (1842-1914) dimmer view of freedom in his poem by the same name is no less intriguing than Hughes’, although in the end, it is much less hopeful:

To Bierce, freedom is an ideal that often falls short of its definition. How free can the illiterate who elect their own officials actually be? Are people only as free as they allow themselves to be?

Freedom is a fascinating concept, one that can spur debate for ages. It has been debated on paper for centuries, by poets who would hope to define, malign, deny, or be blind to the construct of freedom.