Analysis of Cloudy Day Poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca

As humans, we are born to be free. Freedom is defined differently by everyone. Freedom can be seen in different aspects. One of the most humiliating ways to punish someone, is to deprive them of their freedom. For example, when someone goes to jail, they are deprived of freedom. Lacking freedom teaches people how to adapt and make use of the deprivation. Once someone knows what lacking freedom feels like, he will really appreciate it. Freedom is an innate human right. Every human is born to experience the taste of freedom. 

We should care about freedom because it affects everyone. Everyone has their own struggles with freedom and what freedom can be. The big picture has many branches. There are many definitions of freedom. I have many perspectives on freedom. To me, the freedom I am focusing on is self-given freedom… like what you allow yourself to do. Freedom to allow yourself to relax will help with your overall peace of mind. The other side of the issue is that there are freedoms that people prioritize more than others. For instance, someone might say that political freedom means more to them then a more personal freedom. Overall, freedom is something that is defined by the individual and how they choose to express their freedom. They define their freedom.

It can be argued that finding your personal freedom can improve your overall well-being. It gives you a reason to dig deep and understand who you are and what you believe in. The whole of the 7th stanza in the Cloudy Day poem by Baca emphasizes this point. “The third day of spring, and four years later, I can tell you, how a man can endure, how a man can become so cruel, how he can die or become so cold,” says Baca, “I can tell you this, have seen it every day, every day, and still, I am strong enough to love you, love myself and feel good.” Freedom is something that must be pushed to be seen. The interesting thing about freedom is how vague it is. There are so many ways that freedom can be expressed, repressed, or ignored. Baca has a very interesting experience in which freedom is the only thing some people would look forward to: “And here I am, I cannot believe it. Sometimes it is such a dream, a dream, where I stand up in the face of the wind.” Baca finds his freedom in his surroundings.

Freedom has a different definition for everyone that encounters it. Freedom refers to a state independence where you can be yourself. You can do what you like without any restriction from anyone. The Van Gogh painting titled "Prisoners Exercising" gives a feeling of repetition with the stereotypes and restrictions in the real world. There are similarities with the painting and the Cloudy Day poem. It tells a story that we are all in a cycle and the only way to break the cycle is to understand ourselves.

We are born to become free Personal freedom matters because our historical traditions place a high value on individual freedom, on personal rights, and on allowing each person to do their own thing. If everyone uses their right to express themselves in a controlled way, the world will become a more communicated and expressed community. People will learn to be more considerate and understanding. We must respect everyone’s freedom in the society. Doing these, points towards the direction of enjoying our freedom throughout our lives.