A poem can have many meanings. A title is the same way. Whatever you expect to read just by the title of a poem, throw out that expectation and forget what you think you know. In the beginning of a poem, the title means nothing. It's only there as a show piece. However, it gives a general idea of what a poem could be about. If you watch closely, you'll see how a title gains its meaning throughout a poem.

Freedom

By: M. Brynn Bertrand

Midnight comes ‘round on a beautiful autumn night.

A plain girl, simply dressed, steps out for a look around;

The darkness of the night dimly lit by starlight,

Shadows mix with the moonlight and beckon her toward

The trees for a late night walk;

A herd of deer meet in a moonlit clearing,

Seeing her shadow, they run in fright,

Their tails glowing in the white light.

Stepping out of the shadows and into the light,

She runs with them;

Spiral curls, a tint of red, stream behind her,

Her forest green eyes shining with laughter,

She has not a care in the world,

Running in the moonlight;

Out of breath, she sits against a tree on a bed of leaves,

Listening to the cricket’s song;

Pulling a small book of poems out of her pouch,

She opens it to the marked page and reads;

There she sits in her domain,

Reading the poems until sleep claims her;

She is freedom.

See what I mean about titles meaning nothing in the beginning? When you first saw the title, what did you think it was going to be about? Freedom of speech, religion, to bear arms? Well, you were wrong. Next time you read a poem, try reading from the first line instead of from the title. You may find a meaning the title didn't intend.