For Freedom's Sake Poem by Edwina Reizer

So many came.
Came to our shore.
Why they came
Was to explore
A freedom’s door.
They found it hard.
It wasn’t easy
On antiquated ships,
Their stomachs queasy.
All for freedom’s sake.

But, determined and grim,
It was sink or swim.
There were no streets
Paved with gold.
So, they paved the streets
For they were bold.
Some came by themselves
And at least now
There was food on their shelves.
All for freedom’s sake.

They built this land
Bit by bit.
It was hard work
But they never quit.
They watched the country
Then become
One for all and
All for one.
All for freedom’s sake.

But then they watched,
As greed stepped in.
And then began
Our country’s sin.
They brought in slaves
And whipped their backs.
This started separation
Of whites from blacks.
Not for freedom’s sake.

And so we became
Just like others

Denying freedom
To our brothers.
Resentment grew
And now we knew
We were no different
Than the other places.
We just had different faces
That came for freedom’s sake.

And so what started as a dream
Lost its luster and its gleam.
For the sin committed
Did take hold
Tarnishing all that
Looked like gold.
This brings us to
Our present day.
We, the grandchildren having to pray
For our freedom’s sake