Home of the Selective Free



They say that freedom is not free.
But what’s the price, the cost, the fee?
Is it your freedom at the expense of me?
How many forced births will there be?
Save the unborn while kids bend at the knee
pleading with gunmen to have mercy.
Is it blatant hypocrisy
in the name of your theocracy?
I thought this was a democracy.
This isn’t how it is supposed to be

About this poem

This poem is about the horrible and excessive number of mass shootings in our country. Specifically, this was written in response to the Uvalde, TX shooting on May 24th, 2022, which resulted in 19 elementary children and 2 teachers dying. Since then, there have been an additional 64 mass shootings in the United States (as of 6/19/22). Evangelicals claim to be pro-life and are hoping the outlaw abortion rights. These same people refuse to acknowledge gun availability and lack of regulation as one of the key root causes of mass shootings. I ask if my rights are less valid than theirs in this poem. 

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Written on 2022

Submitted by chellebelle77 on June 19, 2022

Modified on April 20, 2023

23 sec read
18

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAAAAAAAAA
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 361
Words 77
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 10

Michelle Brillhart

I am a 40-something mother and wife from Missouri. I like to call myself a real-life bard. I dabble in many areas with a math degree, a Master's of Business, and a love for creative endeavors. Poetry has been my outlet for dealing with my ADD-induced emotional ebbs and flows. more…

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2 Comments
  • alanswansea18
    Beautiful.
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • Symmetry58
    First off, I love the title - something I would have thought up. What really, however, draws me to poetry is an innateness and an intellect coupled together to fashion smart art. Not only do I love the theme here, but that it is completely accurate. The best description I've heard of Democracy is - "When two wolves and a sheep decide what's for dinner." You have the gift, my dear. Run with it while you're able. 
    LikeReply 11 year ago
    • michelleb.48679
      You are too sweet. Thank you for your kind comments. I'm still learning a lot about being an effective writer, but writing about what weighs my heart and mind seems to be a good way to resonate with readers. I hope to learn from those more seasoned than I to excel even further. Feedback definitely helps with that! 
      LikeReply 11 year ago

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"Home of the Selective Free" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/130285/home-of-the-selective-free>.

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