pg. 11 Works Cited

 

Celes, Dr. John. India's Freedom After Freedom. : Dr. John Celes, 2011. Print

Hendrix, Jimi . Freedom. New York City : Reprise Records , 1971. Print. http://www.metrolyrics.com/freedom-lyrics-jimi-hendrix.html

Hikmet, Nazim, T. Baybars, and R. McKane. A Sad State of Freedom. : Greville Press, 0. Print.       http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-sad-state-of-freedom/

John, Elton . Philadelphia Freedom. USA/Canada: DJM Records, 1975. Print. http://www.metrolyrics.com/philadelphia-freedom-lyrics-elton-john.html

Kurzweg, John . To Whom it May Concern. London: Copyright Control , 1999. Print. http://www.metrolyrics.com/to-whom-it-may-concern-lyrics-creed.html

McCartney, Paul . Freedom. Quad Studios New York: David Kahne, 2001. Print. http://www.metrolyrics.com/freedom-lyrics-paul-mccartney.html

Neog, Prabhakar Sarma. My Freedom, Your Freedom. Print. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-freedom-your-freedom/

Root, George F.. The Battle Cry of Freedom. Boston: Sold at wholesale by Horace Partridge, 27 Hanover St. Boston., 1862. Print. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-battle-cry-of-freedom-union/

 

pg.10 Epilogue

The poems in this anthology are selected and arranged so as to demonstrate to the reader the various natures of freedom as interpreted by a number of different poets and songwriters. Some of these poems, like “India’s Freedom After Freedom” by Dr. John Celes is a very literal list of demands for the new government of India, while “Freedom” by Jimi Hendrix is about Hendrix’s personal struggle with drug addiction and the freedom he wishes he had. These poems both represent a desire for freedom from some kind of oppressor or oppressive factor, while “Freedom” by Paul McCartney represents the idea that an individual must have freedom in general, with no specific oppressor listed. Each poem has different subject matter; while some are similar a number of them are very different. In “The Battle Cry of Freedom” the poem talks about Civil War soldiers who are off to fight a very literal battle for freedom; this is very different from Jimi Hendrix’s discussion about drug addiction. The poems are arranged in such a way as to guide the reader from type of freedom to type of freedom. This means that the reader will read about a more literal type of freedom and then be guided on to a more figurative style up until they reach the most abstract and obscure type of freedom in the collection. This will also help the reader to see that although the time period in which the poems were written may be different, and the subject matter itself may be different, the theme of the poems and the type of freedom written about in the poem can still be the same. This reflects the fact that freedom is a universal concept, understood and felt by everyone across the world, throughout history and regardless of race or country of origin. Hopefully the arrangement of these poems will reflect this intention and successfully guide the reader through this arrangement of poems in a way that will allow the theme of these poems and the theme of this anthology to be easily understood and interpreted.

pg.1 Preface

This compilation of poems and songs shares one common theme, freedom. While freedom is the theme of each of these poems the kind of freedom each individual is writing or singing about varies in a number of different ways. Some of these pieces, like “The Battle Cry of Freedom” by George F. Root speak very literally about freedom from a physical oppressor, while others long for a more abstract and theoretical freedom. These more abstract poems allow the reader to put themselves in the poem and imagine it as it may apply to their own life situation. The poems in this anthology are arranged in an order designed to guide the reader through them starting with the most literal sense of freedom to the more abstract and undefined. The poems also come from very different time periods and places, although this contributes less to the order that they have been arranged in.

pg. 9 My Freedom, Your Freedom by Prabhakar Sarma Neog

Freedom is my haritage
Gift of encestors my land my existence
My legecy.

Freedom is my mind, color of the sky                 
Protector of ambitions of my brotherhood                        
A call to soar like a bird
An open stage for all.

Freedom is a promise I gift you
The pleasure in sharing,
My freedom, your freedom, our freedom                      
Our oath, drive and destiny.                      

Source: Poemhunter.com

Analysis        

In “My Freedom, Your Freedom” Neog uses illustration throughout each stanza to generate the idea that freedom is embedded within him and he plans to share that with all and leave that as his legacy. In the first stanza he compares freedom to a gift, something he has received from his ancestors that he cherishes and must hold onto. Neog then proceeds to describe freedom with a more vivid description and use of imagery, “Freedom is my mind, color of the sky/ Protector of ambitions of my brotherhood/ A call to soar like a bird/ An open stage for all”. As he progresses to the third stanza, he expresses his need to share the freedom that he has obtained and strive with others by sharing freedom throughout the people. He not only illustrates his need to share that freedom but he includes the pleasure and fulfillment he gains from doing so, “The pleasure in sharing, /My freedom, your freedom, our freedom”. He uses simile and metaphor to exemplify what freedom truly means to him and the many opportunities freedom grants people, “A call to soar like a bird/An open stage for all”. The tone of the poem is generated by the ambitious and hopeful words of the author leading the reader to feel optimistic about freedom and its effect on people. This powerful message hits the readers because of the strength and power of the writing. It shines through in different ways, from the vivid imagery, to the clearly established tone.

pg. 8 A Sad State of Freedom by Nazim Hikmet

You waste the attention of your eyes,
the glittering labour of your hands,
and knead the dough enough for dozens of loaves                    
of which you'll taste not a morsel;
you are free to slave for others--
you are free to make the rich richer.

The moment you're born
they plant around you
mills that grind lies
lies to last you a lifetime.
You keep thinking in your great freedom
a finger on your temple
free to have a free conscience.

Your head bent as if half-cut from the nape,                                    
your arms long, hanging,
your saunter about in your great freedom:
you're free
with the freedom of being unemployed.

You love your country
as the nearest, most precious thing to you.
But one day, for example,
they may endorse it over to America,
and you, too, with your great freedom--
you have the freedom to become an air-base.

You may proclaim that one must live
not as a tool, a number or a link
but as a human being--
then at once they handcuff your wrists.
You are free to be arrested, imprisoned
and even hanged.

There's neither an iron, wooden
nor a tulle curtain
in your life;
there's no need to choose freedom:
you are free.
But this kind of freedom
is a sad affair under the stars.

Source: Poemhunter.com

Analysis

“A Sad State of Freedom” by Nazim Hikmet creates the idea that there is a backside to freedom, a down fall. That freedom can also lead to negative things and that granting too much freedom to one person or place may give them the right to abuse the power and freedom that they are granted. It also demonstrates the inequality that can come with a free society, “you are free to slave for others--/you are free to make the rich richer.” Hikmet uses the repetition of the words “you” and “your” to speak directly to the reader and help create an image within the mind of the reader. This is done by putting the reader into the poem, and making it easy for the reader to imagine themselves within the poem, thus making the poem apply to their lives, “Your head bent as if half—cut from the nape,/ your arms long, hanging,/your saunter about in your great freedom/ a finger on your temple/ free to have a free conscience.” This repetition of the word “you” allows the reader to put themselves in the situation described in the poem and feel the oppressive freedom, creating a powerful and meaningful image inside the reader’s head. Hikmet closes with the shortest stanza in the poem, helping bring the reader across the finish line. The shortness of the final stanza also creates a sense of finality to the subject, which symbolizes the finality and inevitability of oppression within freedom, “There’s neither an iron, wooden/ nor a tulle curtain/ in your life;/there’s no need to choose freedom:/you are free./But this kind of freedom/is a sad affair under the stars.” This leaves the reader with the feeling that freedom is not all that special, and ends the poem on an appropriate note.

pg. 7 India’s Freedom After Freedom by Dr. John Celes

The people’s struggle against corruption
The non-violent war against corruption
The revolution making all money, white
The struggle by the people, for the people
The new awakening of a modern India.

The giant step to cleanse mal-functioning systems
The call to make India truly progressive
The need to make workable laws
The need to make India self-sustaining
The bid to free India ofF its intriguing problems

Let money not be thine master
Let things become more transparent
Let lucre not allure the citizens
Let sense of decorum and duty prevail
Let patriotism fill all Indian hearts.

Let discrimination of all sorts vanish
Let injustice and inequality be removed
Let taxes be levied in feasible manner
Let persons be accountable, responsible
Let black-money and money-laundering be wiped out.

Let price-rise be controlled firmly
Let tax-money fully benefit the country-men
Let harmony and brotherhood prevail
Let sanctity of life become universal
Let atrocities of all sorts be abolished.

Let inhumane practices be prohibited
Let common man not suffer humiliation
Let authorities not misuse power
Let basic amenities be provided to all
Let clout and recommendation disappear

Let labour be decently remunerated
Let citizens reap the fruits of their toil
Let all Indians breathe the air of freedom
Let love and oneness prevail amongst Indians                     
Let Indians live with honour and happiness.

Let all Indian states be truly integrated
Let divisive forces be stifled by solidarity
Let all Indians live in unity and security
Let India prosper in all ways, always
Let a good democracy rule India here-after.

Source: Poemhunter.com

Analysis

“India’s Freedom After Freedom” by Dr. John Celes is a poem of demands for the new government of India about how the country must be run now that they have finally gained their freedom. Dr. Celes wants desperately for India to establish itself responsibly so that the country may last and thrive after a long struggle with various outside entities for the country’s freedom. The most obvious literary element used in the poem is the repetition of the first word of each line. Only two words are used throughout the entire poem to start lines, the word “the” and the word “let”. The repetition of these two words reflects a clear and concise theme to the entire poem, which is a demand that the government of India relinquish a long list of rights to the people, and conduct its business in a responsible and mutually beneficial manner. The repetition of the word “the” is used to list many actions that have been taken or events that are or should occur, “The people’s struggle against corruption/The non-violent war against corruption/The revolution making all money, white/The struggle by the people, for the people/The new awakening of a modern India.” This listing is two stanzas long and leads into the “let” stanzas, “Let money not be thine master/Let things become more transparent/Let lucre not allure the citizens/Let sense of decorum and duty prevail/Let patriotism fill all Indian hearts.” The repetition is not unlike that which was used in the American Declaration of Independence, as it serves to list demands, goals, accomplishments, and other things related to Indian independence.  

pg. 6 The Battle Cry of Freedom by George F. Root

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys,
We'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom,
We will rally from the hillside,
We'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

The Union forever,
Hurrah! boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors,
Up with the stars;
While we rally round the flag, boys,
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.                           

We are springing to the call
Of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll fill our vacant ranks with
A million free men more,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

We will welcome to our numbers                                     
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And although they may be poor,
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

So we're springing to the call
From the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll hurl the rebel crew
From the land that we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.                            

                         

Source: Poemhunter.com

Analysis

The “Battle Cry of Freedom” is a Civil War poem written by George Frederick Root. The poem which was often sung/recited by Union troops going into battle expresses the belief that the cause they are fighting for is just and right, and that they must “Rally once again/Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.” Root uses imagery, repetition, and symbolism to make this poem speak to the reader and deliver a powerful message. Throughout the poem the need to “rally round the flag” is expressed, with the flag representing the just fight for freedom. This repetition of an important symbol of freedom throughout the poem is important because it constantly reminds the reader of the cause, and of the natural and inalienable rights the country was founded on. The words “we” and “rally” are often repeated throughout the poem, making the reader feel as if he or she is a part of the cause and must rally alongside the troops going off to war. Because of this repetition and other descriptive phrases like “We will rally from the hillside, We’ll gather from the plain, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom” it is easy for the reader to picture boys and men running to the flag so that they can go defend this right of “freedom”. This poem packs an extra emotional punch because of the eagerness of the troops to defend the right of freedom of strangers in towns and cities far away from their own. The reader is able to picture the men marching off to war, who are prepared to die for a cause (freedom) that they believe so strongly in. These devices make it easy for the reader to read and appreciate the poem, as Americans and as humans in general.