The Canary

My self-portrait shows the visual me, but looking beyond the veil, you can see the vines of other people’s perceptions. I am held in that embrace, and yet the yellow canary of freedom, life, and creativity perches quietly on my shoulder, whispering guidance as I enter the darkness of the world. It gives me a path to follow, a breadcrumb trail to reach a better place, and it teaches me how to look outside my cage to find a way out.