Freedom from Want

Because I am an overachiever, I decided to extend my Ekphrastic poems into the month of May. I have never attempted to translate the emotion from paintings, drawings, sculptures, or other visual works of art into words. The challenge will require me to dig deep to tap into the passions such works of art create inside a person. Most of what I write will be speculative. There will be times when I will place myself into the mind of the artist. Still other times, I will express the emotions I experience gazing at the work of art. If I get creative, I might even tell the story from an element within the artwork. This Ekphrastic poem is based on a painting by Norman Rockwell entitled Freedom from Want.  

Freedom from Want

Freedom from want, the greatest American fable,

Hard to understand for those of us without seats at the table.

There has always been a difference in diversity,

In the land of the prosperous and free.

The dream of abundance so often put away,

Along with the turkey and parades on Thanksgiving Day.

Longing to be among those bright smiling faces,

In better times and more appealing places.

For many of us freedom from want is a revolving door,

So many of us play the role of the working poor.

Doomed to sweat and toil on this earth.

Until the laborer is paid what they are worth.

When a person is judged not by the color of their skin,

And the playing field is leveled so everybody can win,

Then freedom from want in the land of liberty,

Can be achieved with true integrity.

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

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