Bare feet on the sand in summer
running hard over the hot bits
to get to the water quickly
the freedom from concrete

climb over the fence after dark
stifled laughter private frissons
skinny dipping a rite of passage
the freedom to be naked

laughter and the camaraderie
of long time association
friends and confidantes
the freedom to be happy

divisions fixed by polarities
religious racial ethnic and economic
still absolute rights for all
the freedom of the first amendment

but still
not for a woman’s right  to her body
not for the terminally ill to die
not for political asylum
not for driving while black
not for gay and LBGT
not for equal rights to marry
but yet and still
the freedom to vote for change