by Sherri Stevens

Sometimes it’s scary to be a canary
where gases and smog fill the air
where chemicals fume
and girls wear perfume
and ladies spray smells in their hair.
I’m just a small bird
with my song gone unheard
that my body’s felt sickened and ill
by solvents and paint
that can poison and taint
silently leaking out gases that kill.
In the old days,
coal miners would hear my chirps cry
finally heeding my songless bird's sign
but now, ears have been closed
to my little bird’s woes
and the doctors all tell me I’m fine.
Though my bright yellow feathers
disguise my disease
and hide my condition from view,
my innards are burning,
and my stomach is churning
while some say, my story's untrue.
This fire’s unseen
that consumes my bird’s being
with flames raging out of control!
What we need is awareness
about this unfairness
and to start a canary patrol.
My sensitive nature
should sound the alarm
like it did for the miners of coal.
So please ponder my pain
and the words that I’m saying
and make saving canaries our goal!
‍
Dedicated to all those suffering from
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and
Environmental Illnesses.

Excerpt from my Deep Calling Deep poetry collection.