hail-writes

[hail-writes]

The Canary and The Coal Miner

By: me

The canary rattled in its cage, nearly falling out.

The miner trudged down the coal mine.

He walked alone, only his canary by his side.

He got to the bottom and flicked on his head light.

He rushed around the cave,

Finding where he left off.

He held his cap as he looked up, spotting a chain hanging from the ceiling.

He carefully hooked the cage onto the chain ensuring his feathered friend’s safety.

The bird chirped,

And started up a song.

The man coughed,

And went down his dark tunnel.

His footsteps made hollow noise,

Reiterating what he was missing,

What he lost.

The miner released his pickaxe from his belt.

He looked at the stone wall and began.

He swung and swung harder with every blow.

He eventually drowned out the canary’s song.

He took a brief moment to look back and saw a yellow blob in the cage.

So he pressed on.

His arms felt numb,

He pressed on.

His head felt light,

He pressed on.

His chest started to hurt,

He pressed on.

His legs started to give out.

He didn't even reach for his respirator.

There wasn't a point, he didn't have one.

The coal miner fell to the ground, arm outstretched toward the end of the tunnel.

A crack was heard when he fell,

His light snuffed out.

Darkness consumed the tunnel.

Though he never saw it, there was no yellow bird now.

Only an open cage,

With a single feather resting at the bottom.

The coal miner had no warning,

No chance to escape the toxic air.

An unfortunate tale.

But isn't that what he wanted?

Wasn’t that his goal?

No respirator.

No lock on the cage.

Just the coal miner and his canary.

Both free at last.