Canary

I rock mindlessly back and forth

On the perch intended to appease me

I long to break free and fly North

But my wings cannot free me

There is nowhere to fly down a mine

Seeping through the bars of this prison

Is a gas that assaults my lungs

The toxicity begins to blur my vision

And my sweet warning cry cannot be sung

As the poison released ends me

But this Canary can cackle once more

As death premature seizes my mind

For the boy who watches me did bore

And slumbers, danger he cannot find

Leaving the miners to fate’s hand…