Is freedom something that we truly want?
to do the tough selections for ourselves
should you for others then be nonchalant?
and let their wishes be, and kill their health
Is freedom just a lawless selfishness?
or is it governed by unwritten rules?
of using apprehensiveness
and carefully selecting moral tools
Is freedom really opposite of free?
respect for other’s choices limits us
and only in our solitude we’ll see
that consequence of freedom might depress
So sacrifice your freedom for a friend
and you’ll be free as you with others blend
Alone by Alexander Shilov
Today it’s Open Link Night at dVerse and I present this little sonnet. Hope you like it.
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August 20, 2013
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Great poem! “Is freedom something that we truly want?” I definitely think about this question from time to time, especially with the way the government runs my country at times…
Thank you.. yes. freedom has become a banner for selfishness and egoism, when in reality if come with a burden of rules.
Freedom…the golden chains that bind and confine… Love the Sonnet….great write
Thank you
A great sonnet and a great choice of picture. The wording is very simple and profound,it questions and I like that, as well as the last two lines that tell a very important knowledge.
Thank you.. yes I’m starting to have real problem with false proclamations of freedom.. it’s not really so free…
Ah…the myth of freedom! How it can bind us…
Indeed… freedom is never free for everyone.
really an interesting thought conundrum….you have to wonder do we really want freedom…as undefined that can be very scary so at whose expense is this freedom, because it always is to someone…so what freedoms are we willing to give up to gain others?
Freedom is starting to be a very dangerous word in politics and otherwise I think…
A fine balance is what your beautiful sonnet calls for – the freedom of thought and expression is what writers fight for all over the world – K
The freedom of thought I support with every molecule.. the freedom to act is another matter… People confuse the two in my opinion.
Wonderful sonnet, Bjorn. I don’t think everyone could ever have ‘total freedom,’ as then we would have chaos, every person marching to his own drum, making his/her own rules.
Freedom is an oxymoron I think… to be free we have to follow rules or be alone…
Lovely sonnet form Bjorn ~ You raise an interesting quesiton – do we really want freedom as it entails consequences and unwritten rules ~ If it means the welfare of others too, we can give up our “freedom” for theirs ~
Bjorn, very thought-provoking and beautiful. I am interested in your comment about freedom to think vs. freedom to act — I am going to ponder that some. But you are right: Freedom is not free.
Thought provoking, this one really got me thinking.
Well, the anarchists, Tea Party members, John Birchers, religious zealots, American Nazis, Aryan Brotherhood–they all know, appreciate, and take advantage of their “freedom” in this country, and meanwhile the Homeland Security SS watches us hawk-like; our technology under the guise of more freedom has/is betraying us, for now any hacker, phisher, asshole, government agency, can track us with ease, and know our innermost secrets and proclivities.,
hmm, I am going to have to read a few times…any sacrifice of freedom is distasteful to me, but I do believe true freedom requires an enhanced care for your fellow man. If you do not want charity forced on you, then be charitable. Made me think, which must mean it is good.
I like to think freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose…but hey that might just be a flashback.
Interesting thoughts…
Freedom can make one selfish and greedy and that is when the whole idea of it fails.
Liberty must be the word, rather than the freedom according to me.
Wonderfully written and sends across an important message.
… loved the end. Perhaps, we are never really free in this world
A marvelous sonnet! I like much how your diction leads me through the paradox of free, freeing, and freedom. “Freedom means having nothing left to lose,” said Janis Joplin.
A poetic rendering of the famous dictum of the Federalist papers – the basic law of freedom is that it creates conflicts, and these conflicts will have to be ruled by justice and law or chaos will ensue. Well done in sonnet form. I admire it a lot.
Absolutely, Gay!
We were on the same channel, it seems, Bjorn ~
Indeed 🙂
i love the thoughts in this… i think freedom is if we’re able to give up our freedom to help someone or put someone else before us.. freedom is never in recklessly doing just what we wanna do..cool job with the sonnet as well sir
Thank you… This was interesting to write, as I basically let the thoughts evolve around the duality of freedom as a word.
I think I have experienced free will and life… I seems to me to be the absence of emotion that guides our lives in preconception mode… For me that perception of free will was truly hell…the flow of experience is the greatest life light love that I know now in creativity.. I want to continue to be a slave to the flow…Thanks Bjorn your insights are incredible to share…
It does make you think–as does the picture you chose–My heritage is Russian–and that culture could write volumes about the lack of freedom–
This is so filled with truth… freedom is very much of a double edged sword, and always so hard to attain in this life, and you are so right in asking if that is what we truly want, so right in suggesting that we are more free when we are connected to others. a beautiful concept.
gorgeous sonnet..adore the concluding two lines especially.
Nice job, very thought provoking!
I like the way your sonnet explores what we understand about freedom!
I agree with you, Bjorn, freedom ain’t worth the whisper of the word if you are not prepared to lay down your life for the sake of another. Talk is cheap… Great poem, sonnet form, too, and so many sonnets are not controversial, so it makes me love this all the more. I look at people with tattered flags on their cars driving to Wal-Mart and think, “Really? Do you READ the paper?” Amy
Amy, anyone claiming freedom seems to do it on behalf of themselves in a way… so I have started to question it’s use… freedom of speech is of course another matter, but other cases is more about MY freedom … vs yours… which makes it a power-game… I actually wrote it inspired on the recent events in Egypt that fills the news here… but it can be applied elsewhere as well…
That word…freedom…evokes so many emotions within me. Your writing brings up many of those questions. Who is really free with those “leaders of the pack”? Thought provoking and so well done.
Good thoughts Bjorn!
I have begun questioning this lately, Björn. And am so glad I dropped by to read this thought provoking piece in the midst of my anger at what is happening in the world today.
I agree with Amy, Talk is Cheap.
Bjorn, A great thought provoking sonnet..at what price is freedom and do we really have “true” freedom??? The world is in chaos and many hunger for a bigger piece of freedom.
Freedom, in sonnet form, you my friend ROCK!
A fun, thoughtful piece. I firmly believe freedom and imprisonment each begin within.
http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/08/20/transformation-2/
This is such an important message, Bjorn. Freedom comes with responsibility. Nice work with the form, too.
Freedom – different things to different people. Too much – chaos, too little – resentment. Lovely sonnet BR, loved the close and adored the pic you chose to accompany.
This has me thinking and rethinking what I believe about freedom.
A wonderful thought provoking poem!
very cool, resonates with philosophical questions in my day job in public health
Wow, Bjorn! this has got to be one of my faves of yours. Thought provoking and profound..and in sonnet form! “Is Freedom just a lawless selfishness?” and other questions you pose give one pause…Great write!
Thank you.. this is one where I simply started with the first line and wrote it down as my thoughts evolved..
Haha that did make me think ~ is freedom not being free ~ fantastic. Thank you.
I like the questions you raise. I guess all freedom has a price and requires much rresponsibility..
You do know that we could argue this case for freedom from now until eternity right? 😉 I like your take on it.
Freedom is a misnomer. Everything of value is paid for dearly.
Your final two lines say everything, Bjorn. Much like love, freedom means nothing until it is given for the cause of others. I take much from your words.
A great poem with a powerful message… excellent!
You have raise a very interesting concept of freedom in your sonnet
Freedom of thought can only be expressed in freedom of speech Freedom of speech is being severely impeded by the straight jacket of politically correctness,an enforced gag to make us all conform to the
politically motivated.social mores of the times.
A very well constructed sonnet. An apposite subject too, particularly when many wish to restrict our freedom in the name of faith.
You have chosen a perfect balance of words for this sonnet, Bjorn.
Pamela
thought provoking and indeed questions we should continually examine..good write
i can see the contradiction here and love the remedy you give. perfect.
Wonderful and powerful sonnet – and very topical. The problem with freedom is it needs a dragon, an enemy to slay always in this world which ultimately is one of nation states. I think a set of rules, or code might also be open to misinterpretation and abuse. Our current world is one of individualism at the expense of everything though. Shame.
Yup… and freedom has been a word that is open for anyone to misuse.