Little Canary

Little canary When we were young we dreamed of a life we loved work that felt like play money, hobbies the dream life But I see you now listening to the critics as they sneer those shoes don’t fit Your hair messy Your costume louder than you You live on five hours of sleep on hope borrowed like caffeine surrounded by crowds cheering jeering shouting screaming Dance, monkey Hop, monkey Every step forced Every breath watched Trapped in your golden cage Every moment demands perfection No mistake No temper No loud voice Beauty rules here Perfection expected Caught between love and work Between passion and paycheck And yet, you perform You perform anyway Even when the music cuts like knives Even when your hands ache You sing Even when your throat is raw You act Every move screaming the story Even the ones the script refuses to show Poor little canary One day, you will break free Your wings will tear the cage apart Your song will be yours To sing Your beauty to shine Your story to tell Without the noise Without the insults Without the chains Without anyone telling you who to be