The poem opens with the speaker talking about democracy never coming through "compromise and fear." The speaker has as much a right to own the land and stand on his own two feet, just like anybody else. He then goes on to talk about the folks who say freedom will come tomorrow, just let it take its course. The speaker feels those people have got it wrong, since he "cannot live on tomorrow's bread." Freedom is a "strong seed" and is planted in "a great need," and since the speaker lives here, he deserves freedom just like anybody else.