Canary

There's a little canary flying around my room 

Wings of red and black are invisible at speed

It perched on my bedside table as a child

And when I reached to grab it’s little wings

it flew at me, screaming and pecked at my eyes 

The canary’s song wakes me in the morning 

Sweet voice calling out foreign notes in shrill song 

It perches itself on my shoulder without question 

But I stay still and sing the robin’s song instead

Little canary, always there when I sleep 

Gentler now, older and tame 

You caress my hair and befriend my sheets

But I flinch when your feathers brush my skin 

I’ll let you follow me around 

But I cannot hold you in my hand

I never really could, you know 

You’re invisible to the girl you’ve blinded